UP govt not to acquire land without farmers' consent

Land for development of state-funded projects in Uttar Pradesh will now be acquired through mutual agreement with land owners and land holders.

The new system of land acquisition was granted approval at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav yesterday.

Official sources said the system has been introduced to tide over the delay in acquiring land under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and to prevent any legal tussle with land owners.

The compensation for the land acquired in urban areas will not be more than two times the market value/circle rate and in rural areas not more than four times the market value/circle rate of the land.

The land owners will also be paid for the property, trees and standing crops on their land. If land cannot be acquired through mutual agreement, then action would be taken under the provisions of the 2013 Act and the concerning government orders, an official said.

The meeting also gave its nod to the Uttar Pradesh Goonda Control (Amendment) Bill, 2015, a significant feature of which is the inclusion of the provisions related to cattle smuggling, sexual exploitation, child labour, bonded labour, beggary and illegal trade in removal of body parts.