Sharad Pawar to discuss fresh changes made in Land Bill today

New Delhi: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is expected to deliberate with Rural development Minister Jairam Ramesh the views of the GoM members on fresh changes proposed in the draft Land Bill including raising of the consent percentage of land owners for acquiring land.

Pawar-led Group of Ministers (GoM) had cleared the draft Bill on October 16. However, the GoM had proposed some more changes, particularly on increasing land owners' consent from 67 per cent to 80 for acquiring land for private purpose following a suggestion from UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The fresh changes were circulated to the 14-members of the GoM for their views. "Agriculture Minister's meeting with the Rural Development Minister on the draft Land Bill is scheduled for tomorrow," sources said.

The key changes include consent of 80 per cent of landowners if government acquires land for private purpose.

In the one-on-one meeting, the two ministers are expected to discuss GoM members' views on the proposed changes made in the draft Bill. Most probably, this would be the last meeting, sources added.

The key changes include consent of 80 per cent of landowners if government acquires land for private purpose. However, consent of land owners was not required for acquiring land for public purpose.

The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 was introduced in Parliament in September last year and was referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee which submitted its recommendations in May.

The Bill has been hanging fire even though the National Advisory Council headed by Gandhi has been pushing for the law and has framed its broad contours.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)