land acquisition proposals in Santhal region for iron and steel projects created furore in the House on Thursday that culminated in cancellation of compensation structure fixed earlier for acquiring land to set up projects and a fresh compensation slab would be decided by a high-level committee that will submit its proposal within a fortnight.
Amid allegations of playing into the hands of corporate houses, Chief Minister Raghubar Das from the Floor of the House cancelled earlier notification for rates fixed by the Finance department for land acquisition and formed a high-level committee to be led by Chief Secretary, Rajiv Gauba. The committee would comprise Additional Chief Secretary, UP Singh; Principal Secretary of Finance, Amit Khare and Secretary of Revenue and land Reforms, KK Soan as other members. As the Opposition blamed the State Government of shooing away farmers and land owners who will forfeit their land for industries, Das assured that the committee would take into account the views and opinions of those people.
“The committee would go to the region, will hold talks with farmers, other people, and submit a report in 15 days and then further steps will be decided. Until then, the rate for acquiring land would be put on hold,” said Das.
Notably, JSPl, Adani Power and few other corporate houses have applied for land in Godda, Sahebgunj, Pakur and Dumka for setting up projects related to power and iron and steel. The proposal pitched opposition against the State government and two adjournment motions were brought in two days to seek injunction against the administrative order.
However, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha described the committee as a sham and an attempt to brush the contentious issue under carpet. leader of the Opposition, Hemant Soren, instead sought a fresh Bill to do away with the practice of land acquisition and replacing the practice with awarding land on lease.
He also questioned Government’s authority to allow land acquisition when the sale and purchase of land have been prohibited by the tenancy Acts.
“This committee is eyewash and is not appropriate. It is the same committee which had amended the compensation structure and they will once again do the same thing. They have no idea about the quantum of loss to the people and State,” maintained Soren.
Notwithstanding the Government’s decision, Opposition parties boycotted House proceeding on the issue and sought a Bill during the ongoing Budget Session seeking changes in the land acquisition process. The JVM pressed for an independent commission to assess land value as they also joined the JMM in their protest outside the House and charged the Government of finding another way to benefit one company through the proposed committee.
“This committee has no right to determine rate for land acquisition as this is right vested in a deputy commissioner. This committee would only compel the deputy commissioner (on rate assessment),” asserted JVM MlA Pradeep Yadav.
Earlier, JMM MlA Stephan Marandi proposed an adjournment motion on land acquisition proposal which was turned down by Speaker Dinesh Oraon even as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy dubbed the Opposition’s protest and attempts of bringing back-to-back adjournment motion as deliberately stalling Government’s reply and putting the Government on “media trial”.
“They are using Floor of the House to put their views only. They are not willing to hear Government’s reply and that is why views of only side are getting published in media. They are putting Government on media trial in this manner,” pointed out Roy.
An adjournment motion was proposed by the JVM MlA earlier as well however it had met the same fate but not without consuming sufficient time of the House’s proceeding.