Land bill amendments 'practical' : Anandiben

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today supported the new land bill saying her government stands with all progressive initiatives and welcomed the proposed amendments as "well-considered" and "practical".
Welcoming the Central government's move to consider states' major concerns and incorporating them suitably in the amended bill of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, Patel said that we support the measures that would reflect our motto of "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas".
In her speech at the second meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog, convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, she thanked the Prime Minister for his commitment to taking the states along as partners in national development and reiterated that her government stands with all "progressive initiatives aimed at speedy development and overall national progress."

At the meeting, convened to elicit views of the states on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Amendment Bill, 2015, she observed that amendments proposed are well-considered and practical.
The provision of mandatory employment to affected family shall ensure justice, prevent distress and provide a platform for social upliftment, she said.
She stated that Gujarat supports any move that ensures fair compensation to farmers whose lands are acquired. She also suggested that arrangements should be put in place to assist farmers in utlising the compensation amount to ensure their sustained benefit.

Stating that amendments to 2013 land bill had become necessary only because of time-consuming and complicated procedures, she commented that inordinate delay in infrastructure projects do not benefit anybody.

"Neither the farmers nor the project agency is benefited by delays in project implementation," she stressed.
She said provisions relating to the exclusion of infrastructure projects from the long process of social impact assessment, and other procedures are beneficial to the larger interest.
The imperative of employment generation has also been accommodated by the amendment relating to industrial corridors whereas the relaxations accorded to projects for affordable housing will also benefit weaker sections of society.
All these provisions ensure a judicious balance between the valid interests of landowners and required pace of nation's development, she noted.
Land alone cannot meet the livelihood needs of a farmer and require irrigation facility, power, access to markets as well as social and economic infrastructure. Investments for additional employment are also required in rural areas, she said.

"Land acquisition, thus, becomes necessary to fulfil these needs of our citizens, including farmers," Patel said at the gathering.
Patel emphasised the inevitability of land acquisition to provide facility of irrigation, power, and roads for access to markets to the farming communities, when government land is not available.
She suggested that a broader view must be adopted that would ensure fair compensation for farmers as well as timely availability of land for development projects.