Report of allowing land ordinance to lapse is speculation:Govt

Government today dismissed as "speculation" the reports that it may allow the Land Acquisition Ordinance to lapse on April 5 and said a decision on it will be taken by the Cabinet.
The government, at the same time, expressed willingness to improve the proposed Land Bill, saying the government is ready to discuss the issue with all opposition parties from which it sought suggestions, if any.
"I have seen in certain quarters today that Land Acquisition Ordinance may be allowed to lapse. These are speculation. Government has not taken any such decision to allow Land Acquisition Ordinance to lapse," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.

"Whatever is needed to be done will be done by the government at an appropriate time," he added.
Separately while talking about the issue, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "You will have to wait for the Cabinet to take a decision." Cabinet, he said, "will take a call" on the entire issue.
Naidu said, "The government is willing to talk to all political parties and anyone having doubts those doubts can be addressed."

The government had in December last year issued an Ordinance to ease rules for acquisition of land for industries and other projects. This Ordinance, as per rules, has to be converted into an Act within 6 weeks of the convening of the Parliament session following the promulgation of Ordinance.

The Budget session of Parliament started on February 23 and accordingly the Land Ordinance had to be converted into Act before April 5, failing which it will lapse.
The bill sailed through Lok Sabha but got stuck in Rajya Sabha before the Budget session went into recess on March 20.
The option of re-promulgating the Ordinance cannot be exercised as Parliament is still in session. For re-promulgating an Ordinance, a Parliament session has to be prorogued.
Prioritising the government agenda, Naidu said "Land acquisition, GST, Black money Bills are the next items for the government to pursue. I only hope that the people who are talking negative about this they understand the issue fully.