Days before the introduction of the new national Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said states might get a free hand in having their own land acquisition laws.
The upgradation of the country’s land acquisition laws is expected to be presented before Parliament after cabinet approval. Ramesh was in Kolkata to meet West Bengal chief minister and the Trinamool Congerss (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee, to take her into confidence as far as the draft Bill was concerned.
“The chief minister has expressed firm support for the Bill, particularly regarding the rehabilitation-and-resettlement package. But, she has also reiterated her demand that the state be free to have its own land acquisition law...there is no compulsion in the central law. The state government is to free have their own law,” Ramesh said. The Bill will update the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
He expressed hope that with TMC’s support, the government will be able to introduce the Bill before Parliament. On the other hand, Banerjee said though the state had raised certain concerns, TMC will support the Bill in collective interest.
“I believe the earlier law was draconian, resulting in struggles like Singur and Nandigram. But, we have two-three concerns regarding the Bill. We will not forcefully acquired any land. We will develop our own land policy and will finalise it in another 7-8 days. We welcome the Centre’s move to change the Bill, but states need some more power,” she said.
According to earlier reports, through the Bill, states had powers under certain clauses, such as cases dealing with natural calamities and national security. The state had recently passed the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011, to reclaim the land acquired in Singur by the Tatas, which is stuck in a legal tangle now. TMC had reiterated it would not allow any forcible land acquisition in the state. The party has reservations regarding draft proposals such as the one saying that land can be acquired if 80 per cent of the people were willing with a particular project.
