Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu here on Sunday asserted that the interests of farmers would not be affected by the amendments being made to the Land Acquisition Act.
“It is unfortunate that false propaganda is being spread by the opposition that farmers will be at the receiving end. In reality, farmers will benefit as they will be paid four-times the market value when their lands are acquired,” he said.
Mr. Naidu insisted that reforms were need of the hour to achieve the targets and goals such as housing for all by 2022. About 25 per cent people still live below poverty line (BPL), many lack individual sanitary latrines and have no access to safe drinking water. Reforms were necessary to address these issues, he said.
But, the opposition parties were making a hue and cry over the government decisions on amendments to the Land Acquisition Act and doing away with the Planning Commission. “The government replaced Planning Commission with NITI Ayog to be headed by the Prime Minister. Chief Ministers will be members of a broad-based Governing Council to involve States in evolving national development priorities,” he said.
Earlier, the Union Minister unveiled the statue of Pingali Venkayya, designer of the National Flag, at Aakashvani Bhavan (All India Radio building) here. The building was also named Pingali Venkayya Aakashvani Bhavan. He also released a book on Pingali Venkaiah authored by Venna Vallabha Rao.
Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani), Machilipatnam MP K. Narayana and others were present.
