Cabinet clears land acquisition bill

The union cabinet today cleared a new land acquisition bill, which mandates consent of 80 per cent of the landholders in cases of private acquisition.

Under the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 (LAAR Bill, 2011), in case of public-private partnership, acquisition of land needs consent of a minimum 70 per cent of the landowners.

"It won't be more than 80 per cent and it won't be less than 67 per cent," rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said about the consent requirement.

However, the government will continue to hold the right to acquire land without seeking consent of landowners.

The new bill, finalised by the rural development ministry, seeks to recompensate land losers with rules that can be applied with retrospective effect.

It also stipulates setting up rehabilitation colonies with facilities such as schools and hospitals as part of the compensation package for the uprooted.