Mumbai: The Modi government, which came to power in May 2014, decided to make amendments in the exisiting Land Acquisition Bill.
However, the Bill has been facing strong criticism from the Opposition.
Read: Too close to home: Rajasthan farmer commits suicide at AAP's land bill rally in Delhi
Here are the highlights:
1. The Bill directs states to impose limits on the area under agricultural cultivation that can be acquired in order to safeguard food security and to prevent arbitrary acquisition.
2. The new Bill has incorporated the previously excluded Acts under the RFCTLARR Act. It therefore brings compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement provisions within its purview.
Read: Land tussle: Critics ‘lying’, we are always pro-poor, says Narendra Modi
3. In cases where PPP projects are involved or acquisition is taking place for private companies, the Bill requires the consent of no less than 70 per cent and 80 per cent respectively (in both cases) of those whose land is sought to be acquired.
4. The consent clause for acquiring land has been removed from five major areas - industrial corridors, public private partnership projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.
Read: Arvind Kejriwal attacks PM Modi, says government is for the ‘super rich’
5. As per the 2013 Act, unutilised land for five years has to be returned to the owner. However, if there is a specified period at the time of setting up the project that needs to be followed.
6. The word ‘private company’ has been replaced with ‘private entity’. A private entity encompasses proprietorship, partnership, company, corporation, non-profit organisation, or other entity under any other law.
7. A government official or head of department can be prosecuted without prior sanction of the government if an offence is committed.
Read: Rajnath Singh orders probe into farmer's suicide at AAP rally in presence of Kejriwal
8. Farmers may get right to appeal/complain over land acquisition hearing and redressal of grievances at the district level.
9. No income tax shall be levied and no stamp duty shall be charged on any amount that accrues to an individual as a result of the provisions of the new law.
10. Where acquired land is sold to a third party for a higher price than 40 per cent of the appreciated land value (or profit) will be shared with the original owners.
