'Careless land acquisition will fuel left extremism'

Jairam says govt keen on solving land-related issues in naxal-hit dists

“So far 50 million poor were displaced in the name of development. Posco, Vedanta, Araku valley bauxite project or Sompeta Thermal power project, land acquisition could acquire naxalist overtures if not carefully dealt with,” the minister warned.

Addressing a press conference after a close-door meeting with collectors in the Naxal-infested districts of Andhra Pradesh, along with the state Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Jairam Ramesh said the new Draft Land Acquisition Bill is aimed at addressing these issues.

Announcing the addition of another 18 districts (six in AP) to the list of 60 Naxal-affected districts in the country, the Union minister said the Centre was   keen on resolving the land-related issues in these districts on a priority basis.

It would also provide incentives and necessary infrastructure for government employees to ensure their continuation at the work-places in the remote areas of the state.

Lauding the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) programme in reducing social disparities in the remote-naxal affected areas,  Jairam said his ministry was in favour of appointing an accountant general to assist the social audit of the works undertaken under the NREGA.

“In all Rs 19,000 crore is being spent through the scheme and we want to introduce 100 more days of skilled work to those who have already completed the mandatory 100 days of unskilled work,” he said.

In keeping with his earlier promise, Jairam Ramesh announced opening of a separate Bank for the women self-help groups (SHGs) in the state.

“AP deserves a special treatment as 40 per cent of all the institutional lending in the state goes to SHGs,” he added.