Land bill gets 9 changes; social impact restored for infra projects

Govt forced to bend as Congress has taken stand to vote against in LS and send it to panel in Rajya Sabha

GN Bureau | March 10, 2015


#land bill   #lok sabha   #modi   #venkaiah   #amendments   #mallikarjun kharge  

While there are 52 amendments proposed by the members, the government on Tuesday moved nine amendments to the land acquisition bill in Lok Sabha as it seeks support from the opposition.

The changes include removal of exemption (requiring the consent of 70 per cent farmers in an area where land is to be acquired) to social infrastructure projects in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The current law requires that consent for all projects. Among them are amendments to ensure a better mechanism for the redressal of grievances of those whose land is acquired.

It has also agreed to reinstate a social impact assessment only for social infrastructure projects. The Opposition and government allies like the Akali Dal have protested against the government's move to scrap the social impact assessment clause, mandatory in the current law, for five categories (that include industrial corridor, rural infrastructure and housing for poor).

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had said on Monday that: “the government is willing to go in for amendments in the bill in the larger interests of the community and the country.”

Congress on Monday had decided to vote against the bill in Lok Sabha if the government does not withdraw changes or refuses to send it to the Standing Committee.

Party President Sonia Gandhi chaired two meetings of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the party  to discuss the strategy over the bill. The party is issuing a three-line whip to its members in the Lower House asking them to be present and vote against the measure.

Congress has also got a shot in arm with NDA ally Shiv Sena saying it has not taken any decision on supporting the legislation or otherwise.

The Opposition strategy appears to be to keep the bill pending in the Rajya Sabha without rejecting it so as to torpedo possible plans of the government to call a joint session. A joint session is possible if a bill is passed in one House and gets defeated in the other.

Naidu said the government will not use the provisions of the proposed legislation for private entities, but stressed the country cannot prosper without industry and that agriculture and industry were like “two eyes”. He said the amendments were brought about after several states had asked for changes. Responding to the opposition’s demand to refer the bill to the standing committee, Naidu said the bill, which replaces an ordinance, has to be passed before April 5. “The House will run till March 20, how then are we going to pass the bill?”

The Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge said his party will not accept any amendments to the 2013 legislation. “Either accept the 2013 Act as it is or refer it (the bill) to the standing committee,” he said.

Several opposition parties opposed the amendments that exempt five new categories of projects from consent and social impact assessment requirements, as well as the move to facilitate the acquisition of multicrop irrigated land.

Comments

 

Other News

Maharashtra Aggregator Cabs Policy flawed: IFAT

On May 21, 2025, Maharashtra issued a government resolution (GR) on its Aggregator Cabs Policy 2025 to formalize the largely unregulated sector. The guidelines outline the framework on ride cancellations, surge pricing, driver earnings, among others for app based services like Ola, Uber. Now, the Indian Fe

The Northeast the most diverse region of our diverse nation: PM

Prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on Friday. Welcoming the dignitaries to the event, the PM expressed pride, warmth, and immense confidence in the future of the North East region. He recalled the recent Ashtalakshmi Mahot

MMRDA proposes formation of Fare Fixation Committee for Metro Lines 2A & 7

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has proposed the constitution of a Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) for Mumbai Metro Lines 2A and 7, currently operated by Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL). ‘Fare Fixation’ is mandated under Section 33

‘Op Sindoor not an act of revenge, but a new form of justice’

Emphasizing that Operation Sindoor was not an act of revenge, but a new form of justice, prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday remarked that it was not just an expression of outrage but a display of India`s unwavering strength and determination. He asserted that the nation has adopted a bold approach, s

An ode to the enduring legacy of India’s temple culture

Dynasties of Devotion: The Secrets of 7 Iconic Hindu Temples By Deepa Mandlik (Translated from the Marathi by Aboli Mandlik) HarperCollins, 232 pages, Rs 399

How to improve India’s crèche system

India stands at a pivotal moment, caught between the promise of a demographic dividend and the crisis of gender inequality. While falling fertility rates, rising female education, and increasing labour force participation signal progress, policymakers continue to neglect one of the most invisible yet vital

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now



Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter