This refers to Arvind Panagariya's article "Win-win on land" (March 10). The land acquisition Bill and its amendments authorise the government to acquire land for infrastructure construction and industrial corridors. This is an important step for the growth of infrastructure, which will come in the following years. However, in the middle of this process, the real estate sector could see a lot of unwarranted profits, as the land is going to switch hands many times and consequently, its price will rise. The increased price would ultimately increase the cost of the project, which would create a 'lose-lose' situation for both the parties (the one losing the land and the one that finally uses it). Farmers will regret losing their land, whose value would have appreciated. The real winner would be the real estate sector - which is not a desired consequence. So, these unwarranted profits also need to be addressed to fulfil the real objectives of the Bill.
Ayush Jain, Ambala
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