Delhi/NCR: DDA seeks exemption from new land acquisition act
In a recent letter addressed to the Urban Development Ministry, DDA vice-chairperson Balvinder Kumar has sought an exemption from the new land acquisition act — the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Kumar said in the letter that the new land acquisition act – which came into force in early 2014 – has put the DDA in a “specially disadvantageous” position, as it potentially blocks the authority’s projects and results in wastage of public money.
Pointing out that land acquisitions by DDA have become extremely difficult and expensive under the new land acquisition act, Kumar said that the act has led to an unwarranted increased in land acquisition costs.
Kumar elaborated that the increased cost of acquisition, together with the cost of rehabilitation and resettlement, results in “astronomically high” disposal cost of land and houses which is beyond the reach of people belonging to lower and middle classes.
Kumar specifically drew attention to the sub-section 2 of Section 24 of the act, which states that land acquisition can potentially get lapsed if, after the acquisition, the authority does not take ownership or the land owner fails to receive compensation even after five years.
Kumar said in the letter: “DDA and the public will lose thousands of crores worth of land if certain provisions of this act are not amended.”
Source- The Times of India
balvinder kumar, DDA, DDA vice-chairperson Balvinder Kumar, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, Right to Fair Compensation, The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency, Transparency in Land Acquisition
