High land cost troubles government
It is feared that several infrastructure sectors – from road, to railway and power – may see three-fold jump in acquisition cost due to the new land acquisition law. The road transport and highways ministry has asked government to increase Budgetary allocation for land acquisition. The ministry also suggested the government to seek opinions from other ministries.
An internal assessment by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) suggests that under the new legislation compensation for land is likely to increase four-fold in rural areas. NHAI is responsible for major land acquisition for road projects. It is likely to be double in case of urban areas. The department of industrial policy and promotion has already expressed their concern with secretary Amitabh Kant going public against the new law. It has been very difficult to acquire land for roads, ports and similar projects after the new law came into effect.
The party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said he believes that the additional amount paid to farmers on enhanced compensation will be less than the money saved by timely implementation of projects. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act is implemented to provide fair compensation to those whose land has been acquired for various projects.
NHAI, on an average, acquires around 6,000-7,000 hectares of land in a year and releases about Rs 7,000-Rs 8,000 crore. It is learnt that agencies don’t need to conduct social impact assessment for highway projects as land acquisition in such cases are linear in nature and does not displace a village or a community. But they need to pay the amount prescribed in the law for resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected people.
Source: The Times of India
Amitabh Kant, law for resettlement and rehabilitation, legislation, Narendra Modi, NHAI, Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, rehabilitation, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition
