The Centre has strongly argued that the provisions of the proposed Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill also be made applicable to land purchased by private persons or firms in order to crush the land mafia.
“As there are a number of instances where land sharks are buying huge tracts of land from farmers without paying the right amount or providing any rehabilitation packages, the Centre want such practices should be curbed”, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said here.
This means, if a person or company wanted to purchase a large piece of land, they should follow all norms laid down in the proposed land acquisition bill particularly in connection with Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) packages.
However, what measurement of land should be purchased by private person, whether it is less than 100 acres and above or less than that brought under the R & R policy, will be discussed and finalised later, the minister said.
The Department of Land Records under the Union Ministry of the Rural Development had earlier in its submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee strongly favoured making laws on purchase of land by a private company through private negotiations on mutually agreed basis to ensure comprehensive R&R package to the affected families.