Illogicalities in land acquisition law need to go: Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday said the government is considering changes to some "illogical provisions" of the Land Acquisition Act.

"There are some illogical provisions like land cannot be used or acquired under this law for private educational institutions, private hospitals and hotels. There are some factors in it, which certainly require a relook," Jaitley said at the India Economic Summit here.

"By this, a new capital of Andhra Pradesh, or the 100 smart cities proposed cannot have private universities and schools, private hospitals or hotels," he added.

Speaking at a question and answer session at the summit inauguration, Jaitley said the new law lays down extremely complicated procedures, making it almost impossible to acquire land.

The act now makes it mandatory to take the consent of 80 percent of the people whose land is taken for private projects. In the case of public-private-partnership projects, the consent of 70 percent of people is required.

"As defence minister, I face difficulties every day, even defence is not exempt," Jaitley, who holds this additional charge, said.

Important infrastructure projects like industrial corridors and housing, especially for the poor, were being held up by such illogicalities in the law, he added.