Split decision, civil society cries foul

Union Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh is likely to introduce the bill in Parliament on September 7, a day before the monsoon session of both Houses conclude. The bill will probably be referred to a standing committee for wider consultation.

The Cabinet approval to the bill sent rights activists and other groups across the country into a rage as they said the bill has been passed in a hurry.

Deccan Herald learnt that Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily submitted a lengthy list of objections. He was joined by Sharad Pawar and Vilasrao Deshmukh. Moily said the bill was too rigid.

Their main objection was to the proposal of compensation (linked to index) to be paid to the displaced – both land owners and those dependent on it - for a period of 20 years.

The dissenting ministers said it would hurt industry. Other objections related to the clause that the government could acquire land only when at least 80 per cent of the affected families consent to the acquisition.

The 90-minute deliberation, held at the Parliament House, came to an end with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the objections could be studied by the standing committee. The bill, which was supported by, among others, Housing Minister Selja, has the backing of Sonia Gandhi’s son and MP, Rahul.

West Bengal Chief Minister and UPA government’s ally Mamata Banerjee, a strong opponent of the earlier bills, stalled the move to introduce them in 2009 and 2010.

Activist Medha Patkar reacted sharply to the move to table the bill in Parliament. She said: “It is extremely unfortunate that a key piece of legislation is being pushed through in such a hurry... It is ironic the Cabinet approves a  proposal which stipulates that when a private company is acquiring land over 100 acres for a public purpose, the land shall be acquired by the government,” she said.

“The two earlier bills on land acquisition and rehabilitation had wider consultation,” said farmers leader Bhupendra Singh Rawat.