The Standing Committee of Parliament on Rural Development has unanimously recommended substantial changes in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011.

The panel adopted its report here on Tuesday, which is likely to be tabled in Parliament on Thursday.

Deletion of Clauses 98 and 99 is one of the key recommendations. Section 98 said the provisions of the Act shall not apply to 16 Acts specified in the Fourth Schedule of the Bill. The 16 Acts included the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958; the Atomic Energy Act, 1962; the Cantonments Act, 2006; the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978; the National Highways Act, 1956; the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005; the Railways Act, 1989 and the Works of Defence Act, 1903.

Clause 99 empowered the Central Government to amend or alter the schedules of the Act. “Such provisions were unusual and we have recommended their removal,” a member said after the meeting.

The report also suggested that Clause 2 of the Bill should be amended. The panel wanted all public-private partnership projects and private projects with public purpose to be brought within Bill's ambit. In the same clause, the committee said it was for the State Assemblies to decide the ceiling for every acquisition.

At present, only acquisitions above 100 acres in rural and 50 acres in urban areas will come under the Bill's purview.

The panel also wants land to either be returned to the owner or be added to the land bank if it is not used after five years of acquisition.

>jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

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