Cabinet clears Land Acquisition ordinance

The Centre has recommended an ordinance to make significant changes to the Land Acquisition Act so as to fast-track projects in key sectors such as power, roads, defence and housing.
A Cabinet meeting, chaired by the PM, took note of the difficulties in implementing the Land Acquisition Act. The Centre claimed that the amendments will strengthen the provisions to protect the interests of the ´affected families´ and also reduce procedural difficulties in acquiring land required for ´development´. The Centre has been interacting with States on the Act. In June, several States had conveyed to the Centre that the present Act was creating trouble in acquiring land for even State projects. Their main objections were to the compulsory consent of 80 per cent of the affected landowners and the social impact assessment of the alienated land.