Land Bill: CEO speak

Farmers in India have been short-changed since Independence, with the government acquiring land at low prices and giving it to industry. Farmers have been getting a raw deal and I hold the government responsible for it more than the industry.

All over the world, governments acquire land, he continued. “As the Bill suggests, if the industry has to get 80 per cent consent before the government buys 20 per cent land, then one may end up not getting the land at all. The Government should buy 100 per cent of the land — say, anything over 25 or 50 acres — at the correct price. The problem is the determination of market price — who will do it and how will it be done?

Rahul Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Auto

It is a welcome step for industry. All the projects, which have been stuck because of land acquisition issues will be able to move ahead now. We have acquired 900 acres of land in Gujarat, but the project has been stuck for two years because we have not been able to acquire 50 acres more. Now, we will be able to take it forward by paying four times the market price.

Farmers need not worry, as the Bill says they will get four times the value as compensation in rural areas apart from resettlement and new skills training.

Venugopal Dhoot, Chairman, Videocon Industries

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