The Union Government has said that it is not going to acquire an ‘inch’ of land for Ambanis, Adanis, Tatas or Birlas. Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has said that the Land Reforms law is being enacted to remove hurdles for scores of infrastructure projects across the country.

“Projects worth lakhs of crores of rupees have been struck (because of issues related to land). We need to break this. We are not going to acquire land for private firms,” he said.

Addressing BJP workers and farmers on the Land Reforms bill here on Monday, he said job opportunities would grow in rural areas if infrastructure projects were completed. “We gave exemptions in a few areas including public good and security of the country. Rural infrastructure projects and irrigation projects too are given exemption,” he said.

Citing the examples of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, he said development of irrigation projects would go a long way in growth of agriculture. “Madhya Pradesh, once a poor State, improved its irrigation facilities resulting in a growth of 23 per cent in agriculture,” he said.

He reiterated that though the Centre enacted the Law, States had freedom to frame detailed rules to suit their own requirements.

Crop pattern

The Union Minister has called for a change in cropping patterns. “Farmers are not getting remunerative incomes in rice. You must go for energy crops and vegetables to help tap the growing demand for bio-fuels. You must also go for palm plantation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Government sanctioned a Dry Port for Telangana, a land-locked State. “We have asked the State Government to come out with a proposal on a suitable location. We are yet to hear from them,” he said.

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