October 29, 2013
New Land Act Neither Pro-People Nor Pro-Industry – WB Industry Minister
West Bengal Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee on Monday said that the state government does not subscribe to the new Land Act, slated to be notified after finalization, either on Jan 1 or on April 1, 2014; he was addressing a meeting at the Merchants` Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kolkata. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2013 was passed by the Parliament during the Monsoon Session, during which the Trinamool MPs had voted against the legislation.
“The Trinamool Congress government does not subscribe to the new act. There are many issues which needed to be discussed, but they have been left unresolved. The Act says that consent of 80 percent of land-losers would be required, but we want it to be 100 percent,“ West Bengal Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee said. He said that the new Act was “neither pro-people nor pro-industry“.
At a Bijoya gathering on Monday, addressing the top industrialists of the State, West Bengal Chief Miniter said, “Land is not a problem. Without capturing or grabbing farm land, our government was able to clear more than 12,000 acres of land for industrial projects. I think that is a big achievement.“
Land required for road construction and industry will be acquired through negotiation as far as possible with a human face, the West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee had said while reiterating her government`s stand that there will be no forced land acquisition.
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