The Hindu Business Line : New policy on land acquisition gets Cabinet nod

CHENNAI: The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for the National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement, 2007 to replace the National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation for Project Affected Families, 2003.

A gazette notification will be issued shortly to bring into effect the new policy.

The Cabinet has also decided to bring a legislation on the lines of the new Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy and to suitably amend the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Necessary steps shall be taken in this regard as per the established procedure.

The new policy and the associated legislative measures aim at striking a balance between the need for land for developmental activities and protecting the interests of the land owners, and others such as the tenants, the landless, agricultural and non-ag ricultural labourers, artisans and others whose livelihood depends on the land involved.

The benefits under the new policy shall be available to all affected persons and families whose land, property or livelihood is adversely affected by land acquisition or by involuntary displacement of a permanent nature due to any other reason, such as n atural calamities, etc.

The policy will be applicable to all these cases irrespective of the number of people involved.

A special provision has been made for providing lifetime monthly pension to vulnerable persons, such as the disabled, destitute, orphans, widows, unmarried girls, abandoned women or persons above 50 years of age (who are not provided or cannot immediatel y be provided with alternative livelihood).

A National Rehabilitation Commission shall be set up by the Central Government, which will be duly empowered to exercise independent oversight over the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected families.

Under the new policy, no project involving displacement of families beyond defined thresholds can be undertaken without a detailed 'Social Impact Assessment,' which among other things shall also take into account the impact that the project will have on public and community properties, assets and infrastructure.

The policy also provides that land acquired for a public purpose cannot be transferred to any other purpose but a public purpose, and that too only with prior approval of the Government.

If land acquired for a public purpose remains unutilized for the purpose for five years from the date of taking over the possession, the same shall revert to the Government concerned.

When land acquired is transferred for a consideration, eighty per cent of any net unearned income so accruing to the transferor shall be shared with the persons from whom the lands were acquired, or their heirs, in proportion to the value of the lands ac quired. - Our Bureau

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