Modi Government withdraws 6 Amendments, sticks to 2013 Land Bill

A joint parliamentary committee has been examining the Land Bill and the committee recorded stiff opposition to the Bill in writing and during oral submissions.

The government has used a series of back-to-back executive orders or ordinances to introduce new rules, but for the changes to become permanent, Parliament’s consent is required.

In a panel meeting on Monday, six of the amendments were discussed on which there was a consenus, while out of the total 15 amendments in the bill moved by the government, nine are considered substantial in nature. This means that the Bill will look nearly similar to UPA’s 2013 Land law.

In their suggestions on the proposed amendments in the 2015 land bill brought by Modi government, the parties rejected the government’s proposal to exempt projects for rural infrastructure, affordable housing, industrial corridors and infrastructure projects, including public-private partnership (PPP) projects where the government owns the land from the mandatory obligation of implementing consent clause and carrying out a pre-acquisition social impact assessment.

The Congress mounted a high-pitched attack on the Narendra Modi government on its new bill, alleging that it had made changes to the 2013 Act to benefit a few industralists. The committee’s term has been extended till August 7, when the members will have to adopt a report on the Bill and submit it to Parliament. It is now left up to the states to amend the law to remove any handicaps they face in implementation, they said.

The Congress, CPM and JD-U have sought a “total withdrawal” of the proposed changes by the NDA government in the 2013 Land Act and inclusion of some additional measures to further strengthen the law in favour of farmers.

In a major climb-down over the controversial land bill, the government has agreed to retract all amendments to it and present the bill in its 2013 form. Sources said the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Amendment Bill will be still pushed but only to effect the necessary changes that are not opposed by anybody.

The move on the land bill could have a positive impact as both Houses of Parliament are facing continuous logjam over the last eight days with the largest Opposition party not allowing any legislative business with its disruptive tactics.

Saffron affiliates including Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram have also opposed the bill and demanded restoration of the consent clause and social impact assessment.