New Land Acquisition Law

New Land Acquisition Law 

Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 replaced the vintage Land Acquisition Act, 1894 from January 1, 2014. As many as 13 existing Central pieces of legislation have to be amended within the year to bring their R & R and compensation provisions on a par with those of the new regime on buying land across the country.

Union Minister for Rural Development Mr. Jairam Ramesh announced the roll-out of the new law. He said that the clock had started ticking for 10 Ministries of which three ¾Railways, Power and Home ¾ have to amend two laws each accordingly. The Minister flagged the Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act, 1957, the National Highway Act, 1956, and the Land Acquisition (Mines) Act, 1885 in particular. The Coal and mining-related laws have assumed significance in view of the agitations in Jharkhand and Odisha. The other laws that have to be amended are: the Atomic Energy Act, 1962; the Indian Tramways Act 1886; the Railways Act, 1989; the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958; the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962; the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948; the Electricity Act, 2003; Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952; the Resettlement of Displaced Persons (Land Acquisition) Act, 1948 and the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978.

Meanwhile, the Rural Development Ministry also notified the Rules to the new Act. These Rules are still open for change as the law mandates that 45 days be provided for factoring in comments from the public. However, Since all key stakeholders were consulted before drawing up the Rules, the Ministry did not foresee any hitch in this regard and was hopeful of placing them before Parliament by mid-February.