Now, private land acquisition only by consent in MP

State government to pay twice of the value of the land to the owner in case of acquisition

The Madhya Pradesh state government today approved a policy to acquire private land only through consent for infrastructure development projects under various departments or state owned undertakings.

"The policy is for infrastructure development of various government departments or undertakings where private land is required for any project. The land acquisition will require consent of the land-owner," Narottam Mishra, government spokesperson and cabinet minister said.

In case of acquisition of any private land for any such project, state government has decided to pay twice of the value of the land to the land-owner.

Under the policy, state government will also be able to acquire agriculture land provided it has been given on lease or patta basis to the holder. The land acquisition will be done on behalf of state government departments or state owned entities.

"The department or undertakings will pay the value of the land after calculating prevalent collector guideline rates of lands plus value of available assets on the land (trees, well, house etc.) but will also pay an equal rehabilitation grant," a senior government official said.

"The land-owner, who will surrender the land for any government project, will be paid an equivalent amount as rehabilitation grant. Thus, the land-holder will get double of the prevalent value of the land," he added.

For any project in public interest, state government will ask the district collector to acquire requisite private land on behalf of the government department or undertaking that needs the land. In lieu, the department will compensate the land owner. The value of the fixed assets will be determined by the state public works department. As regards acquisition process, the district collector will serve a notice to the land-holder and will seek the land holder's consent within 15 days.

"The time limit can be extended if required," said the official. However, in case of the land acquisition is deferred due to any reason, the land will be handed over to the state revenue department. "The revenue department will put the land in its 'land bank' and it would be used for any other project in future," the official said.

At present a private player has to buy land from the land-owners on mutually agreed land rates. Few years back state chief minister had announced that his government would assure that no land should go below Rs 500,000 per acre.