What the Dongriya Kodh tribes of 12 villages around Niyamgiri have done in Odisha can be repeated in other parts of the country.
Boasting of provisions in the land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Bill, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said it would arm gram sabhas of tribal areas to decide on any land acquisition proposal. The Bill has been passed by Parliament and is expected to be notified within three months.
“The new Act passed by the UPA is another landmark step. It has replaced a 119-year old law of the British Government. Tribals, Dalits and peasants will get legal rights against forceful acquisitions that have been in practice so far,” Ramesh said in reply to The Pioneer’s question at a Press conference. “I would say that from now, land acquisitions in tribal areas would be done with caution — like in Niyamgiri — and would not take place blindly,” he added. Tribals, through a plebiscite as directed by the Supreme Court, recently rejected outright proposal for bauxite mining in Niyamgiri mountains, considered sacred by Dongriya Kondh.
The Minister also denounced JMM’s apprehensions on the land Acquisition (Mines) Act, 1885 and the Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition & Development Act, 1957. land givers in mineral-bearing areas would be given compensation under provisions of old clauses and not enhanced compensation. “In politics, sometimes you have to adopt a middle path and compromise. I also wish that all 13 Acts kept outside had been inducted. But I had to get consensus in the Cabinet with other States, parties and stakeholders,” said Ramesh.
“It will be the responsibility of the Centre. The Act has promised that within a year, all those kept out would be included and provisions for them would be made in accordance with the rest. Compensation for mining in rural areas would be four times within a year. But I am not in a position to do this now,” he added.
The Union Minister is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday. After passage of the Bill, Soren had expressed dissatisfaction and said his Government would frame a new land acquisition law. Ramesh expressed confidence that Soren “must not have full information about provisions as he is a young CM and remains busy 24 hours.”
The Minister pointed out, “What I feel is that no one should cross the laxman Rekha in coalition. He should have talked to me and stated anything on the correct platform. I am meeting him and will inform him correctly about the Bill.” Besides, Ramesh will also discuss the royalty coming to the State form the Centre.