Land Acquisition Bill cleared by the Union Cabinet

The much-awaited Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bill, which provides for enhanced compensation to land owners and a slew of other benefits, was on Monday approved by the Union Cabinet and will be tabled in the parliament on Wednesday.
The bill seeks to address the shortcomings of the current land acquisition act made in 1984 in the light of recent protests against land acquisition.
Among the major initiatives, the bill seeks to ensure appropriate compensation for land losers and labourers dependent on the land proposed to be acquired for living.
The draft bill talks about livelihood compensation for displaced famers.
The draft suggests that under no circumstances should multi-cropped, irrigated land be acquired.
Also government will not be acquiring land for private companies for private purpose.
The bill was cleared in the cabinet after it was decided that the states will be free to have their own laws on land acquisition.
The Land Acquisition, Relief and Rehabilitation Bill, 2011 is believed to have a proposal for compensation four times higher than market rate to the owners.
It also proposes government help for acquisition of 20 per cent of the land for a private project in case the firm acquires 80 per cent of the land needed for a project.
The bill proposals include a subsistence allowance of 3,000 per family per month for a year and an annuity of 2,000 per family per month for 20 years.
The bill also includes employment provisions.
The Bill was discussed threadbare at the Cabinet at a meeting that lasted over 90 minutes