Land Acquisition bill to be notified early next year: Jairam Ramesh

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Jaipur: The Land Acquisition Bill would be notified by early next year after framing of rules, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday and stressed the legislation will play an important role in curbing Maoist problem.
In the next two months, the ministry would frame rules under the Act and it would be notified early next year, the Rural Development Minister told reporters here.
It provides for fair compensation to those whose land is taken away, brings transparency to the process of acquisition of land to set up factories and buildings, infrastructural projects and assures rehabilitation of those affected, he said, terming the legislation as "historic".
Besides giving many benefits of land rights to farmers, dalits, and tribals, the landmark Land Acquisition Bill could gradually eliminate Maoist influence in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa in next five to six year. "Of the 88 Naxal afflicted districts, I visited 50 of them and found major issues of land and forest that were behind Naxalism.
"Land deeds (patta) were given to 13 lakh tribals to live under the Forest Right Act, 2006. Jangal and zameen (forest and land) were issues behind these terror, and the new bill will certainly enable the state governments too to solve their genuine problems", Ramesh said.
UPA government in its second innings has established six new milestones of legal rights for public at large for peace and prosperity of the nation, he said. These are Right to Information in 2005, MNREGA, Right to work, Forest Right, Right to Education 2008, Food Security and Land Acquisition Bills (2013), the minister said.