Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that the recently enacted Land Acquisition Bill would eliminate the influence of Maoists in tribal-dominated areas of the country.
He said that the Bill boosted of numerous facets to facilitate policies for farmers, tribals and others, which would help in gradual decline of the Maoists' influence.
"If this law is executed well, I think, you will notice yourself, the influence of Maoist outfits will definitely fade away," he told media here today.
He further said that the Maoist outfits were holding their influence in several regions mainly on the issues of forest areas and arable lands.
"There are two reasons due to which the influence of the Maoist outfits is increasing, firstly the laws related to forests and secondly the laws related to land. Population of millions have migrated, have become homeless, have not got right compensation and they have been intimidated by the Maoists," he added.
Ramesh also said that if the Forest Rights Act is implemented properly, the Naxal menace would come down in three to four years.
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"If the forest rights act is implemented sincerely the Naxal problem will come down in next three to four years," he said.
"No political party can avoid the problems of the farmers. We will give four times the market value of the land for the farmers. We will look into the market price of the past three years," he added.
The bill, which will replace a century-old law, is historic and revolutionary as it seeks to provide fair and just compensation to farmers and to those who lose their livelihood on account of acquisition.
The new bill proposes that farmers and landowners be paid up to four times the market value for land acquired in rural areas, and two times the market value in urban areas.
The other significant aspect of the Bill is that the consent of 80 percent of landowners is needed for acquiring land for private projects and of 70 percent landowners for public-private projects.
Public purpose as per the bill includes sectors like mining, infrastructure, defence, manufacturing zones, ports, roads, and railways built by the government and public sector enterprises.