The Government on Monday faced stiff opposition in lok Sabha from BJP’s ally Shiv Sena during the debate on the controversial land Acquisition Bill. Sena MP Arvind Sawant said the Government should look at the possibility of taking land of farmers on lease rather than acquiring it as it would ensure steady flow of income to the displaced persons.
Sawant also demanded that the Government should not do away with the consent clause and the requirement of social impact assessment for acquiring land, while regretting that people whose land were acquired 25 years ago were yet to be rehabilitated properly. “We cannot ignore the plight of farmers. The bill lacks transparency in land acquisition. Corporates prefer to acquire more than needed for the project always. How can we check these practices by the CorporatesIJ They are eyeing on the land and rest with them and create land banks to take loans from the banks. This is unacceptable,” he said citing several examples across the country.
“The remuneration package is just a pittance. The value determination of the farm lands are totally non-transparent,” he added. later talking to media Sena leader Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said the Bill in present could not be supported.