Sushil Modi challenges Nitish on land acquisition ordinance

Reacting to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's opposition to the Centre's Ordinance to amend the Land Acquisition Act, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today dared him not to implement it in Bihar or make a better policy than it.
"If Kumar has courage then he should not implement the amended Land Acquisition Act in the state. If he wishes he can make land acquisition policy which provides better compensation to the farmers," Modi said.
Pointing out that the amended Act was in the interest of farmers, Modi said its opposition by Kumar revealed his "anti-development character", and that he was "spreading confusion among the people".

"Kumar should tell whether or not we need land for power projects, roads, bridges, rural industries and basic infrastructure. Will their development not lead to more employment opportunities? Are railway and power projects worth lakhs of crores of rupees are not pending in the country due to non-acquisition of land," the BJP leader asked.
Modi, former Deputy Chief Minister said the new Act has given utmost priority to the interests of farmers. It has fixed the compensation at four times of the market price of land in rural areas and two times the market price in urban areas.
"To simplify the compensation processes, the new legislation has also brought 13 such laws of the Land Acquisition Act 2013 within its ambit, under which compensation was prohibited. It will also compensate labourers and share-croppers who eke out a living from a particular piece of land," Modi added.

The BJP leader said the new law provides that the owner will have a share of 20 per cent in the developed land. Families that give land for any employment generating project will either get Rs 5 lakh or Rs 2,000 per month for 20 years, or job to one of their members.
Modi added that those displaced due to land acquisition will get Rs 50,000 for transportation and Rs 50,000 for rehabilitation.