Lok Sabha passes amendments to land acquisition law, Congress stages walk out

New Delhi: After two days of discussion in Lok Sabha, the government today successfully passed the amendments in UPA’s land acquisition law while allowing 11 official amendments in the bill to take concerns of the Opposition on board.

However, the Congress staged a walkout because the treasury bench neither agreed to a single amendment as suggested by the party nor was it sent to the parliamentary Standing Committee.

“Government has decided to bring 11 official amendments such as limiting the industrial corridor to one kilometre on both the sides of the highways and railway lines, compulsory employment to one member of the affected family of farm labourers, hearing and redressal of grievances at the district level, acquisition of bare minimum of land,” a source in the government said as it was facijg stiff opposition.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh briefed leaders of the NDA allies on the land bill and the amendments moved by the government to address their concerns.

Indicating the government’s willingness to incorporate more changes into the land bill in order to address the concerns raised by Opposition parties, the rural development minister told PTI, “After consultations with the cross section of society, including political parties, farmer organisations and various other agriculture-related organisations, we have brought these amendments.

“Still, we are open to more suggestions – suggestions which are in the interest of the farmers and agriculture. But this should also be seen that development continues.”

The government had already circulated a list of nine amendments it plans to bring in the bill proposal, including putting in place a hassle-free mechanism for grievance redressal and removing the exemption to social infrastructure projects in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

The original Act required the consent of at least 70 percent of land owners in the area where land is to be acquired for such projects.

Asked whether the government was ready to make further changes in the bill, the minister said that a number of Opposition parties have already moved amendments.

“Yes… some of the amendments have already been move by the Opposition. If something comes out, we have to see that. But the legislation should be passed,” he said, expressing confidence that the Bill would clear Lok Sabha.

The bill, which was debated in Lok Sabha yesterday, is being taken up for voting today.

Government has proposed substantial changes to the controversial Land Acquisition Bill to seek wider support from an agitated opposition which has slammed the amendments to the 2013 Act, calling it “anti-farmer”.

Meanwhile, government sources said that all eight allies of NDA have expressed solidarity with the government on land issues.

With PTI input