Amendments made in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narender Modi Government approved the ordinance making significant changes in the Land Acquisition Act 2013. This included removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas of industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.
The Act came into effect from 01.01.2014 but it has been reported that many difficulties are being faced in its implementation. In order to remove them, certain amendments have been made in the Act to further strengthen the provisions to protect the interests of the ‘affected families’. In addition, procedural difficulties in the acquisition of lands required for important national projects required to be mitigated.
States, Ministries and stakeholders had been reporting many difficulties in the implementation of this Act. Several suggestions came up in interactions with State Revenue Ministers and key implementing Ministries. Proposed amendments meet the twin objectives of farmer welfare; along with expeditiously meeting the strategic and developmental needs of the country.