This is with reference to “Govt will not buy land for private firms; to keep off irrigated parcels” ( Business Line , July 30). India very urgently needs a better land acquisition law for ensuring growth with justice. The Bill, as known from media reports, embodies many improvements. However, certain proposals need to be reviewed. The most important is to have a tight, unalterable and clear list of “public purpose” and refrain from making changes without Parliament approval.
For example, will “strategic purpose” cover a new missile testing range? In the past, pressure groups have succeeded in enlarging the infrastructure list. The worst is the extreme vagueness of “where benefits largely accrue to the general public”. A port, an ultra mega power plant, and all Special Economic Zones (SEZs) could, for example, qualify as being socially important. A better way will be to require all acquisitions using this “public purpose” clause to be first judicially approved by a sitting High Court judge from another jurisdiction.
The next is the blanket exception made for government projects. Will a mega-irrigation project requiring thousands of acres of land to be submerged qualify? Would bridge and road-building under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) be protected?
There is no reason why a public sector unit (PSU) or government department should get any advantage over their private sector peers.
Thirdly, any proper compensation rule must be specific so that there is no confusion and unnecessary conflict. If you don't have an upper ceiling, it opens the door for agitation.
Finally, if a lot of elbow room is left to the states, we will have done ourselves a huge disservice. The exclusion of multi-crop land will be fatal for the once-important states in the Punjab and the Gangetic plains. To build new transport facilities or power plants will become that much tougher.
Bhaskar Sen
Kolkata