RSS outfits have strongly opposed several provisions in the ordinance brought by BJP Government replacing the land Acquisition law passed by the UPA dispensation and together with some other organisations sought that the land not developed five years after acquisition should be returned to its owner.
In their submission to the Joint Committee of Parliament, RSS linked organisations expressed reservation against legislation of the NDA Government and demanded inclusion of the consent clause and social impact assessment in the new legislation.
Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) , Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and other RSS outfits are to appear before the Committee on Monday and Tuesday. BKS has asked for the consent of at least 51 per cent of farmers being taken before land is required from them.
SJM has said the 2014 land Ordinance replaced the 2013 Act, passed by the UPA Government, "in undue hurry" and the re-promulgated Ordinance contains several "unacceptable" sections even after incorporation of several amendments.
A project should be undertaken only after making social and environmental impact assessment, something which is followed by World Bank even for roads built by its funding, it said. This practice should be followed by Government in construction of Public-Private partnership in infrastructure projects, said the RSS outfit .
The SJM also said land use change (from the purpose for which land has been acquired) must not be allowed, and in case the beneficiary of land acquisition fails to use the land within specified period, land be returned to the original owners, without applying any conditions.
It also demanded issue of a White Paper about land acquisition by the Governments since 1947 stating its present status, unused land lying with Government and also with big industries.
like several organisations representing farmers and already deposed before the committee, SJM also pointed out that the clause providing for return of land to original owner after expiry of five years has been "diluted". In 2013 legislation, the provision put a cap of five year within which project must start. However, the BJP Government has put a rider saying the five year would not be considered if the land acquired was under court litigation.
"Agricultural and forest land should not be allowed to be acquired for any other purpose, in the interest of food security of the nation."Government should not own the responsibility to acquire land for the needs of private industries," SJM further said.
Te BKS has said that farmers' interests have been ignored by doing away with the provisions of social impact assessment and the clause relating to returning unutilised land.
Prabhakar Kelkar, BKS general secretary, said the consent of a minimum of 51 per cent of farmers must be obtained before acquiring land.
The sixth and seventh meetings of the joint Parliamentary panel headed by BJP's S S Ahluwalia are taking place on Monday and Tuesday.
Apart from RSS affiliates, former BJP ideologue K N Govindacharya, noted lawyer and former AAP leader Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav and representatives of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram are to appear before it.