AP issues GO, notification under Land Acquisition Act

The government issued a GO (No.166) on Thursday on acquisition of land under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 for the construction of the new capital in the wake of resistance to the land pooling scheme by some sections of farmers.

The government also issued a notification in accordance with the ordinance issued by the Union government by amending certain provisions in the Act and exempting the Capital City Development Project from the provisions of Chapter II and III to pave way for a “smooth and expeditious land acquisition”.

The process under the land acquisition notification will commence on Friday, and District Collectors will initiate necessary measures.

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana said the Land Acquisition Act would be applicable in the case of land owners who had not given their consent for land pooling and who felt it would not protect their interests.

Some land owners also filed a petition in the High Court that the Land Pooling scheme was against the provisions of the fair compensation, resettlement and rehabilitation provisions of the LA Act. The government then submitted to the Court that it would implement the provisions of the LA Act, Mr. Narayana said.

He said so far 14,800 acres of land had been acquired after entering into agreements with farmers under the Land Pooling scheme.

Act will be applicable in the case of owners who have not given consent for land pooling