Water conservationist Singh opposes Land Act changes

Noted water conservationist Rajendra Singh today termed the proposed amendments in the Land Act as "anti-farmer and anti-poor".
The 55-year-old Ramon Magsaysay Award winner said the 2013 land law, enacted by the Congress-led UPA Government, was strongly in favour of farmers.
However, the changes proposed in the Land Bill, 2015 by the BJP-led NDA Government were against the interest of farmers and the poor, he said here.
"One can understand acquisition of land for defence projects, hospitals or projects of national interest. But how can the Government acquire land for private parties by amending the existing Act?" he asked.
He was speaking at a "meet the press" programme.

Singh, also known as "waterman of India", said the proposed changes would benefit only industrial and corporate houses in the country.
Singh, who has served as a member of Ganga River Basin Authority, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet Ganga cleaning project would succeed only if authorities make laws to stop flow of sewage water and industrial effluents into the revered river.