Land bill takes middle path, says Ramesh

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the land acquisition bill "attempted to strike a balance between development and land acquistion and protect the right of tribals who are displaced in the process".

He was replying to a debate on the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister also said the bill protected the rights of states and left it to states to decide on acquisition of fertile land.

He also said irrigation projects would not come under the bill and said special economic zones would be covered by it.