Centre mulls extending land compensation provisions

The government has proposed to issue an order under the land acquisition act to extend compensation and rehabilitation benefits to families whose land is acquired under 13 central Acts, which were not included when the law came into force last year.

The new land bill is being considered by the joint parliamentary committee.

The Rural Development Ministry, administering the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, in a statement on Friday said the provisions of compensation were to be made applicable to the 13 central Acts through a notification within a year of the law coming into force.

The Land Act 2013 came into force on January 1, 2014 and the last date of notification was December 31, 2014.

To achieve the purpose, the National Democratic Alliance government went for an ordinance, promulgated on December 31, 2014. A second ordinance was promulgated on May 30.

The bill to replace the ordinance was, in the meantime, referred to the joint committee of parliament. The panel is expected to give its report in the winter session of parliament.

The statement said the latest ordinance will lapse on August 31 and those whose lands are acquired under the 13 acts will be placed at a disadvantage.

"Therefore the government has decided to uniformly apply the beneficial provisions relating to the determination of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement," it said.

The 13 Acts mentioned in the Fourth Schedule of the Land Act include The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958; The Atomic Energy Act, 1962; The Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948; The Indian Tramways Act, 1886; The Land Acquisition (Mines) Act, 1885; The Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978; The National Highways Act, 1956; The Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962; The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952; The Resettlement of Displaced Persons (Land Acquisition) Act, 1948; The Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act, 1957; The Electricity Act, 2003 and the The Railways Act, 1989.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has already signalled change in its position on its land bill has agreed to bring back provisions of consent and social impact assessment mentioned in the land act of 2013 passed by the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance government.