CII proposes changes to Land Acquisition Bill

New Delhi, Dec 7: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is of the opinion that the proposed Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill which is essential to promote industrialization needs changes and has put forth a three prong policy provisions for an effective land acquisition legislation.

The proposed bill is expected to be introduced in the ongoing session of the Parliament.

Objecting to the provision that the State can only acquire land for a private sector project if the company has already acquired a minimum percentage, CII stresses that the state must play a vital role in acquiring land for industrialisation.

The Industrial body suggests the following amendments for systematic development of industrial land.

1. Setting up of State Land Bank Corporations

These would be dedicated institutions set up to scientifically acquire large tracts of non-cultivable and other lands, develop them as land banks for the future and have a transparent mechanism to pass them on to the private sector.

2. National Digitization of Land Records

Pointing out that archaic land records are the biggest road-blocks in land acquisition and disbursement of compensation, CII proposes digitization of land records, across all states, over a specified time-period, with comprehensive scrutiny in order to make land records transparent and facilitate detailed planning of land use for industrial, agriculture and residential development.

3. Planned Zoning of Land:

CII also recommends ex-ante zoning of land so as to have a clear mapping, identification and segregation of the land for various purposes, over a 100-150 year horizon. Updating, digitization and zoning of land records will be key for achieving success in the process of systematic development of industrial land, CII said in a statement.

In order to avoid controversies, such zoning and acquisitions by Land Bank Corporation must be made ex-ante, before it is allocated to any particular private sector entity.

CII stresses that these recommendations need to be accommodated in the bill to successfully achieve the Government"s objectives of inclusive growth and job creation through enterprise and industry.

OneIndia News