New land bill will prevent forcible acquisition: Ramesh

Says provisions made in the Bill to provide more compensation

The new land bill once implemented would stop forced land acquisition in the country and would protect the rights of farmers and tribals, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said here Wednesday.

"For the first time in the country, after this bill there will be no forcible land acquisition. There will be no police firing anywhere," Ramesh said at a press conference here.

Describing the Land Acquisition Bill as historic and revolutionary, the union minister said provisions have been made to provide more compensation to the people.

The bill was passed by parliament in its monsoon session.

The farmers and landowners would be paid up to four times the market value for land acquired in rural areas. In urban areas, they would get two times the market value.

Citing the example of Niyamgiri mining project in Odisha which was rejected by the local people few months ago, he said consents of gram sabha (village councils) would be needed for acquiring land in all scheduled areas.

Similarly, in other areas consultation with local people would be mandatory.

Approval of 80% of local people would be required for private projects in other area, while 70% landowners need to give their consent for projects which would be carried out under public-private partnership mode.