Ibrd Official For Amending Land Acquisition Act

Ellen Schaengold, chief of World Banks social development division, yesterday said that the Land Acquisition Act needed to be modified further in view of the countrys changing socio-economic scenario. The Act was last amended in 1984.

Addressing a two-day conference on the private sector and land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation here, Schaengold pointed out that more land was being used than needed as the rapid population growth in the country had rendered land-for-land an unviable option.

The conference has been organised by the World Bank and Confederation of Indian Industry.

According to Schaengold, the remedy could be eliminating or minimising resettlement, community participation, timely and adequate payment and rehabilitation of people by restoring their income. The living standards of the displaced people should be retained, especially in case of involuntary displacement, she said.

 

While it is the responsibility of the corporate sector to assist the government in land acquisition, to consult the population to identify and implement solutions, work on integrated and local solutions, actively assist in rehabilitation, develop partnership with communities, non-government organisations and the government, the World Banks role lies essentially in facilitating business/community partnerships for the benefit of all, said Schaengold. Union rural development secretary N C Saxena said negotiations on such sensitive issues should be carried out without waiting for an unrest to surface among the affected. people. He said the draft national policy on resettlement and rehabilitation of people affected by reservoir projects had already been discussed with Medha Patkar in view of the effects of displacement caused by the Tehri Dam.

Saxena also supported the World Bank view that radical changes are required in the Land Acquisition Act.