Amend 'outdated' Land Acqisition Act: M S Swaminathan

Coimbatore, Feb 15 (UNI) The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) president M S Swaminathan today said there was an urgent need for amending the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in view of the large scale diversion of the land for non-farm purposes.

Speaking at the eighth Agricultural Science Congress organised jointly by the NAAS and Tamil Nadu Agriculture University here, he said the Act was outdated.

According to Dr Swaminathan in determining the compensation, courts should not take into consideration any increase in the value of the land acquired likely to accrue from the use to which it would be put when required.

''There are some who like to see large numbers of farmers with small holdings quitting farming by selling their land to business and industry. Land markets which will provide a fair deal to small farmers are being suggested for this purpose.'' Those who propose such an exit strategy for farmers should also suggest an ''entry'' strategy, he quipped.

He said the most urgent need in the country was the mandatory introduction of a livelihood impact statement in all development and commercial projects in the area of industry and retail trade.

Stating that the Centre was initiating ''a more income and crop per drop of water'' movement all over the country, Dr Swaminathan said Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa should concentrate on the maximum use of available water.

The country should set up inter-disciplinary research centres immediately on 'the management of climatic changes'. In every Panchayat, one man and woman each should be trained as ''Climate Managers'' to minimise the adverse impact of bad weather and maximise the benefits of normal monsoons.

Dr Swaminathan suggested the restructuring of Krishi Vigyan Kendras as 'Krishi aur Udyog Vigyan Kendras', to end the prevailing mismatch between production and post-harvest technologies.

The setting up of Gyan Chaupals or village knowledge centres could promote quality trade and provide dynamic information on meteorological and marketing factories, he added.

''Improved agriculture productivity is the only way available for ending hunger, poverty, ignorance, disease and inequality of opportunity'', he noted.

UNI