Amendments in the Land Act to bring smiles to the industries
Major states including those ruled by parties outside the ruling alliance have raised a host of objections to many unworkable provisions in the new Land Acquisition Act. Hence the Modi government has put the Act, which came into force just six months ago, under a comprehensive review.
There are minor differences among the states on the amendments needed in the Act or the emphasis given to resolution of any particular issue. The states have given their respective proposals and their proposals reflect a broad political consensus on the need to make the Act more investor-friendly.
This would make it easier for the government, which is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha, to carry out the amendments. All the parties and states almost have requested for changes to be made in the current act irrespective of the fact whether they are led by BJP or not. It is good to see that the state governments are keeping the interests of the state above all and are not taking the compromise route due to their affiliations to the party.
Even if the Congress, the proponent of the Act, refuses to support the changes, other major parties outside the government like the AIADMK, with 11 members in the Upper House, and the Samajwadi Party, with 10, could come to the rescue of the government.
Congress-ruled states including Maharashtra, Assam and Kerala have also sought major relaxations of the consent and social impact assessment (SIA) clauses in spite of the fact that this bill was passed during the UPA regime. The Rural development minister Nitin Gadkari has already sent a note to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), indicating his view that the law be amended to make land acquisition less cumbersome for the industries.
Source- The Financial Express
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