Kolkata: After getting the initial nod from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday over his draft Land Acquisition Bill, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said that he is willing to modify the Bill based on her party, the Trinamool Congress' (TMC) suggestions.
Mr Ramesh's statement came after his meeting with Trinamool leader D Bandyopadhay, the man considered to be behind the party's land policy.
After the meeting, the minister said that the main issue with the TMC is the role of the government in the acquisition of land for private players with respect to projects that serve a public purpose.
The current draft of the Bill allows state governments to acquire land for private players if the project in question serves a defined public purpose.
Mr Bandyopadhyay said that the term 'Public Purpose' needs to be strictly defined and that he has provided suggestions running into seven pages to Mr Ramesh.
The minister, on his part, assured Mr Bandyopadhyay of defining the relevant clauses in the Bill.
The developments bode well for the government considering Ms Banerjee has, in the past, opposed the previous versions of the Bill. Not surprising then, that Mr Ramesh chose Ms Banerjee's residence as the first stop yesterday to seek consensus for the crucial and controversial Bill. The chief minister, at the end of the meeting, seemed satisfied with the draft Bill.
"We will study and react to this...but I am happy with Ramesh's draft", said Ms Banerjee.
The issue of the government's acquisition of private land for public purposes had been discussed earlier between Mr Ramesh and Ms Banerjee yesterday and both leaders appeared to have achieved a common ground over this provision of the Bill.
"Public purpose should mean some essential government purpose. Something that is very important. In that case, the Bill says government can acquire land", said Ms Banerjee.
"I told her that her concerns have been addressed. She hasn't read the draft, but broadly she appears to be in sympathy with it," said Mr Ramesh.
The draft Bill also states that those seeking rural areas for private projects will have to provide compensation at almost six times the cost of the land. For urban areas, the compensation is to be twice that of the current market rate. If the land is not used for five years, it will then have to be given back to the original owners.
The Bill was originally supposed to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament. However, it will have to wait till the winter session, as it will not be able to meet its deadline.
Mr Ramesh's statement came after his meeting with Trinamool leader D Bandyopadhay, the man considered to be behind the party's land policy.
After the meeting, the minister said that the main issue with the TMC is the role of the government in the acquisition of land for private players with respect to projects that serve a public purpose.
The current draft of the Bill allows state governments to acquire land for private players if the project in question serves a defined public purpose.
Mr Bandyopadhyay said that the term 'Public Purpose' needs to be strictly defined and that he has provided suggestions running into seven pages to Mr Ramesh.
The minister, on his part, assured Mr Bandyopadhyay of defining the relevant clauses in the Bill.
The developments bode well for the government considering Ms Banerjee has, in the past, opposed the previous versions of the Bill. Not surprising then, that Mr Ramesh chose Ms Banerjee's residence as the first stop yesterday to seek consensus for the crucial and controversial Bill. The chief minister, at the end of the meeting, seemed satisfied with the draft Bill.
"We will study and react to this...but I am happy with Ramesh's draft", said Ms Banerjee.
The issue of the government's acquisition of private land for public purposes had been discussed earlier between Mr Ramesh and Ms Banerjee yesterday and both leaders appeared to have achieved a common ground over this provision of the Bill.
"Public purpose should mean some essential government purpose. Something that is very important. In that case, the Bill says government can acquire land", said Ms Banerjee.
"I told her that her concerns have been addressed. She hasn't read the draft, but broadly she appears to be in sympathy with it," said Mr Ramesh.
The draft Bill also states that those seeking rural areas for private projects will have to provide compensation at almost six times the cost of the land. For urban areas, the compensation is to be twice that of the current market rate. If the land is not used for five years, it will then have to be given back to the original owners.
The Bill was originally supposed to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament. However, it will have to wait till the winter session, as it will not be able to meet its deadline.
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