[IE]
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2012, passed by the Lok Sabha on
Thursday after a marathon debate is a historic legislation. It ensures
that there will be no forcible acquisition of land, as was the case
under the archaic Land Acquisition Act of 1894. It also contains many
empowering provisions for resettlement and rehabilitation of those
displaced by the acquisition of land. The primary purpose of the law
imposed by British colonisers was to expedite the acquisition of land
and it was silent on issues of resettlement and rehabilitation.
There
has been unanimity of opinion across the social and political spectrum
that the old law suffered from many infirmities. Even the Supreme Court
had observed that the law had “become a fraud”, drafted with “scant
regard for the welfare of the common man”. The new law not only provides
for just and fair compensation to farmers for land acquired by the
government but also states that relief and rehabilitation will be given
on private purchase too and landowners will be removed after all payment
is made and resettlement site has been prepared.
The government
has done well to accept some key amendments by the BJP and Left to
ensure the Bill’s smooth passage. Now that the political parties have
passed a legislation that democratises profits from development in a
rare show of unanimity, the Indian industry should accept it as a
positive step. The new legislation will discourage crony capitalism and
break the nexus between business and politics. The industry must buy
land by paying the farmers market price, acquire land on its own and go
to smaller towns and villages. By removing the role of the government as
an intermediary and protecting interests of genuine landholders, the
bill seeks to put an end to injustice perpetuated against poor
landholders for over a century.
