Land acquisition on fast track

The coal ministry will set up a committee with time-bound targets, to speed up land acquisition and statutory clear­ances for projects as part of its plan to boost production in 2011. The inter-ministerial com­­mittee, due to be constit­uted by 30 September, will have representation from key min­­­­istries and state governments for expediting land acquisition and securing clear­ances. States woul have to form their own co-ordination-cum-monitoring committees by year end. The ministry will monitor the pro­gress every quarter. Coal min­istry said acquisition prob­lems are linked to resettlement and rehabilitation, or R&R, issues like non-avai­lability of valid title documents, demand for higher compensation over and above that prescribed in the land acquisition rule, resistance to shifting to rehab­ilitation site even after receiving compensa­tion amount. The ministry says it will monitor R&R, ensuring they are implem­ented in line with national and state policies. Coal India will finalise its new R&R policy by year-end to align it with that of the states.