The Cabinet on Wednesday gave its final approval for the policy on land acquisition covering rehabilitation and resettlement of evictees.
The policy proposes a resettlement and rehabilitation package which is an improvement upon the existing modes of fast-track acquisition.
Minister for Revenue Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the draft policy had been modified to provide for hearing of environmentalists and others on proposals for projects needing land acquisition. Decision on issue of redeemable infrastructure bonds to evictees for value of land had been kept in abeyance, pending expert review on proposals regarding assessment of land value, transfer of bonds and agency to oversee the issue of bonds. Other changes were minor in nature.
The Minister said that a high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary would coordinate land acquisition proceedings at the State level. At the district level, the collector or an officer designated by him would work as rehabilitation officer.
The policy provides for assessment of land value for compensation either on the basis of fair value or market value. The government is likely to adopt the upcoming Central policy that may propose payment of three times the value of land as compensation in urban areas and two times in rural areas, the Minister said. While assessing value of buildings, depreciation would not be taken into account.
The policy provides for provision of alternate land to persons whose land had been taken up for special projects excluding roads if their annual incomes are less than Rs. 75000. About 10 per cent of the land acquired for roads would be set apart for rehabilitation. Claims of those in possession of government land would be settled on a one time basis. They may also be eligible for land for housing purposes.
The policy specifies that the objective of the land acquisition should be clearly defined and the area, type of land and alignment should be approved by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The social impact of the project should be studied and evictees should be convinced of the rationality of the land acquisition before issuing notification. Emergency clauses should be used only sparingly.
The notification will be issued only after depositing at least 25 per cent of the cost of acquisition in the account of the land acquisition officer. Employment of at least one member each of the evicted families in the proposed project may be considered. Evictees who lose their homes should be given rent till they could build alternate accommodation or at least for six months.
If the acquired land could not be used in three years for the specified purpose, it should be diverted for other public purposes. However, if acquisition proceedings had lapsed, de nova proceedings should be initiated only with approval of the high level committee.
When commercial establishments are evicted, the local self governments should build alternative business complex for them and allot them to the evictees at half the rent at least for five years. This benefit will not be available to companies, banks and financial agencies.
If half of the land belonging to a person had been acquired, he would have the option to offer the remaining land also for take over by government. Those who lose their land in full could be given compensation. However, a provision could be made for allotment of 25 per cent of the acquired area within the project area. In case of land acquired for irrigation projects in the command area, up to 50 cents of land could be given to each of the evictees.
