Seeking to allay fears expressed by the Indian industry that the new land Acquisition Act would make projects economically unviable, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh said that the newly enacted legislation applied only to the land acquired by Central and State authorities for any public purpose.
Talking to mediapersons here, Ramesh said that industrialists could acquire private land for their various projects, as there was no bar whatsoever, on the purchase of private land. “Industry must look beyond land acquisition by Government and explore land purchase opportunities. In fact, in 20 years from now, there should only be land purchases and no land acquisition,” Ramesh said.
Reiterating his stand that land acquisition should become an act of last resort, Ramesh said that his Ministry was working towards improving land records management in the country and promoting transparency in land sales. He said that the Rs 1000 crore National land Record Modernisation Programme (NlRMP) was being implemented, with focus on computerisation of land records, digitization of maps and resurvey. He said Maharashtra had progressed well in the execution of the NlRMP, but the programme was yet to catch up with Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tripura.
Ramesh said that a Bill seeking amendment to the Registration Act of 1908 had been introduced in Parliament, which when passed, would put all land sales and registration records in public domain. “When transparency increases, it will become easier for corporate to purchase land,” he observed.
On the SEZs, the Minister said all land acquisition for future SEZs will be in accordance with the new act. He however admitted that the Act presently has no provision to deal with denotified SEZs. Terming the new land Acquisition Act which replaced 119 year old act, as ‘historic’, Ramesh said: “The 1894 Act was undemocratic as it vested enormous discretionary powers in the hands of District Collectors. On the contrary, the new act is humane, its thrust is on rehabilitation and resettlement, and if any act promotes the welfare of tribals and marginal farmers, it is in national interest”.