There has been public outcry linked with Singur, Bhatta Parsaul and Tappal as the state governments have been acquiring land under the outdated Land Acquisition Act of 1894 but under the new Land Acquisition Act, only the public interest will be served.
This was emphasised by Union minister Jairam Ramesh at a press conference at the Congress headquarters here on Tuesday. Mr Ramesh arrived here by a special aircraft to address the media. He said that both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have taken a revolutionary step by passing the Land Acquisition Bill. Describing it as a historic development, he said that a 119-year-old British colonial Act, which was anti-farmers, anti-farm labourers and anti-landowners, has been uprooted and demolished.
Mr Ramesh gave credit to the Opposition parties, including the BJP and the Left parties, besides the Congress for the new Act. This involved extensive debate and amendment to bring out the Act in its best form, he said.
The Union minister pointed out that all powers for land acquisition were vested in the district collector under the old Act. The collector was the sole authority to decide how much land was to be acquired, when it was to be acquired and what should be the compensation and when it was to be paid. The Act did not cover the important aspect of resettlement and rehabilitation. The new Act will ensure there is no land acquisition without resettlement and rehabilitation, he added.
Throwing light on the pro-people provisions of this act, Mr Ramesh said it allows as compensation four times the prevailing market value of land in rural areas and twice the value when it comes to urban land.
Besides, he added, consent of 70 per cent villagers would be required for acquiring land for public utilities and consent of 80 per cent villagers to acquire land for private use. Land acquisition has been kept in the concurrent list of the Constitution. Hence the Centre and states can make laws in this regard, he said and pointed out that the states will have to keep in mind that the compensation to land owners could even be fixed at five or six times the market value of land but it cannot be reduced.
Mr. Ramesh said that when the new Act was being framed, Madhya Pradesh chief minister shivraj Singh Chouhan had been to Delhi with his top officers to discuss a few points. When asked about the monitoring mechanism, the Minister said that it would be done by the public, NGOs, Gram Sabhas and journalists. There is also a provision for a Central level and state level monitoring committees in the new Act. He also said that the new Act would help in reducing the naxalite problem.