Letters: Land in trouble

This refers to Nitin Desai's article "The wrong land war" (May 21). The author has correctly analysed the land law issue and needs to be appreciated for his cogent views and suggestions. This debate has been unnecessarily politicised. The real reason for both the Congress' and Bharatiya Janata Party's keenness to have a land Bill that is violative of the rights to property and livelihood of millions is not general industrialisation or infrastructure, but a few sweet spots that are now sought by the industrialists and land cum construction mafia - such as land adjacent to industrial and freight corridors, special economic zones, solar parks, real estate in emerging areas and so on.

For a reasoned debate, it might have been better if the author had also given the impact of land acquisition delays in project implementation in terms of percentage of project cost and not of number of projects. It is true that previously there was resistance to large-scale land acquisition compared to now. The reasons for that might also include greater awareness, media and non-governmental organisation activity and dissatisfaction with rising wealth inequalities. Sensible policies such as land adjustment and proper rehabilitation are more likely to succeed than an appeal to the poor for sacrifice at the alter of uncertain trickle-down benefits.

P Datta Kolkata

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