Maharashtra govt decides to acquire land through negotiations

Seven-member panel, headed by the district collector, will decide on the compensation payable to the land owner

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday took the decision to acquire private land directly through negotiations, even as the Opposition parties are gearing up against the Centre's land Bill.

According to the state Cabinet decision, a seven-member committee, headed by the district collector, will decide on the compensation payable to the land owner. They can accept the whole compensation at one go or half at once and half through annuity. The decision was taken to give a shot in the arm to investment and boost the 'Make in Maharashtra' project of the government.

The Cabinet decision follows close on the heels of the Centre's rejection to exempt Maharashtra Industrial Development Act from the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had made a strong pitch for exemption in January, arguing it was essential to enable the government to continue land acquisition without affecting land owners and project-affected persons.

The government will acquire the entire land required for new non-irrigation projects. For incomplete projects, the acquisition of the balance land will be done not in phases but at one go. In case of irrigation projects, 50 per cent land will be required for the dam site, submerged areas, rehabilitation area and canals and 50 per cent for the water distribution ways.

It was reported in Business Standard last week, a government official had said the state has 15,000 hectares in possession. "Had the government gone by the LAAR Act provisions four times compensation is required to be paid. Notifying the MID Act is a long drawn process and therefore the option of consent or negotiation route was accepted."