Land acquisition in some areas 'inevitable': Pranab

In an apparent message to cabinet colleague Mamata Banerjee who is opposed to land acquisition, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said there were some areas where land acquisition was "inevitable".

"Roads can only be built on land and improvement can only take place on land. Completion of road development projects will depend on land acquisition," Mukherjee said against the backdrop of the railway minister not turning up for a meeting in Delhi on the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill called by him, but sending her views.

He said that the Centre was working on the relief and rehabilitation package for the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill.

"We are at present discussing the rehabilitation package at the central level and we will bring an act on the same," Mukherjee said at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for four-laning of the the NH 34 between Berhampur and Dalkhola in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

Stating that he expected the act would come soon, he, however, declined to give any time frame.

He said financial compensation would be 'healthy' and jobs would be offered for acquisition of land for four-laning of the NH 34 between Berhampur and Dalkhola.

A total 680 hectares would be required to complete four-laning of the NH-34 out of which contract for 260 km has been awarded to the Hindustan Construction Company.

The project is estimated to be completed in 30 months.

Mukherjee said the project would help in fructifying the SAFTA and the Look East policy.

The NH-34 begins from Kolkata and ends at Dalkhola covering 482 km connecting international borders of Myannmar, China (through Nathula), Nepal and Bangladesh with West Bengal.

Modernisation of the highway would have a great impact on growth of trade commerce, Mukherjee said.