Land acquisition ordinance gets Presidential assent

The ordinance on Land Acquisition Act envisaging procuring land for industrial corridors, rural infrastructure, defence and housing today received Presidential assent.
The ordinance was cleared by Union Cabinet on December 29 and sent to the President for his clearance.
When asked, President's Press Secretary Venu Rajamony said "the President has signed it."
The ordinance makes significant changes in the Land Acquisition Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas -- industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.
Under the amended Act, 13 legislations, including those relating to defence and national security, to provide higher compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement benefits to farmers whose land is being acquired have been brought under the Centre's purview.

Under the amended law, the mandatory "consent" clause and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) will not be applicable if the land is acquired for five purposes.
These include,national security, defence, rural infrastructure including electrification, industrial corridors and building social infrastructure including Public Private Partnership (PPP) where ownership of land continues to be vested with the government.