Differences persisted over the land Acquisition Bill at the all-party meeting on Tuesday, with BJP opposing the Government move to allow land acquisition for manufacturing zones and have a wide definition of “public purpose” for acquisitions to be made under the contentious Bill.
Since other Opposition parties also kept insisting that only barren land be acquired and a retrospective clause be included in the Bill to provide adequate compensation to landowners, the meeting remained inconclusive.
Now, a third all-party meeting will be held on April 18 to discuss all amendments suggested by various parties to thrash out differences. Individual parties will send written suggestions by April 15, which will be compiled and sent to all parties the next day. At the next meeting, the Government will give its response so the
Bill can be passed once Parliament’s Budget Session reconvenes on April 22.
The Government avoided taking any rigid stand over any provision. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said he is hopeful of consensus. He convinced all parties that farmers were suffering due to land acquisition under the existing 117-year-old law. Moreover, many leaders also admitted that land sharks have started large scale acquisition, which is also affecting farmers.
leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj charged the Government with not accepting some key suggestions of the Parliamentary Standing Committee and even diluting the Bill. While deleting provision for and acquisition for Special Economic Zone, the Government has just changed the nomenclature and allowed it for manufacturing zones, she lamented.
Presenting 12 points of amendment, the BJP leader said that instead of complete acquisition and transfer of ownership, land should be taken on lease so that owners and landless tillers could have regular income with the lessee paying annuity instead of lease rent. Also, a portion of benefits accrued due to development of acquired land should be shared with farmers and other dependents on ongoing basis.
The resettlement & rehabilitation policy should be brought from retrospective effect from 2007, she said which was also supported by Rashtriya lok Dal leader Ajit Singh. left parties have already submitted their 22 points of differences on the Bill.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, SP leader Rewati Raman Singh and RJD leader lalu Prasad insisted that only barren land should be acquired especially since the Government wants to bring the Food Security Bill. They also demanded protection of rights of share-croppers and long term policy for providing gainful employment to children of farmers whose land is acquired.
They said the Government should not have any role in acquisition for private purpose but NCP leader Praful Patel said that since consent of 80 percent land owners will be necessary for acquisition for Private Public Partnership project, nobody should have any objection or apprehensions.