Maharashtra's Revenue Minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Sets Motion New Measures for Orderly Land Acquisition Process and Guarantees Equitable Compensation
Maharashtra, one of India's most industrially and economically vibrant states, is currently drafting new land acquisition rules aimed at fast-tracking state development projects while ensuring fair compensation to farmers. The proposed framework, based on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act (RFCTLARR), 2013, seeks to address long-standing issues such as the acquisition of land below assessed rates through consent awards and the minimization of valuation disputes.
Key elements of the new proposals and regulations being considered include:
- Flexibility for Farmers: The new rules will allow farmers the flexibility to sell land below notified market values if they wish, bringing government land acquisition closer to private buyer flexibility. This could accelerate acquisition by enabling district collectors or officials to finalize compensation after direct negotiations with farmers.
- Learning from Other States: Policies from states like Gujarat and Telangana that have implemented similar fast-track acquisition rules will be studied. Comparative reports will be prepared to shape Maharashtra’s approach.
- Alternative Compensation Models: Exploring options beyond cash compensation, such as offering jobs or other benefits in lieu of or addition to monetary payments, will ensure farmers are adequately compensated and incentivized.
- Empowering District-level Officials: District-level officials, such as district collectors, will be empowered to have more decisional authority for settling compensation after consultations with landowners, reducing delays and disputes.
- Amendments to Consent Awards: Provisions under Section 23 of the Land Acquisition Act, which govern consent awards, will be amended to encourage more willing participation from landholders.
A separate draft proposal from the Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Ashish Jaiswal, suggests permitting direct purchase of land by industries through mutual negotiation, bypassing the traditional acquisition process under the Act. This would mean full ownership transfer rather than leasehold, and potentially waive resettlement and rehabilitation requirements tied to compulsory acquisition.
The Maharashtra divisional commissioners have been tasked to submit reports on existing policies and potential reforms, emphasizing transparency and fair compensation under the central Act during acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement.
In summary, Maharashtra’s approach focuses on balancing speedy acquisition for infrastructure and development projects with fairness and flexibility for farmers, including options to sell land at a negotiated price below government notified value and additional benefit schemes. The draft rules are still under discussion with the goal to stimulate urban and industrial development while reducing lengthy acquisition disputes.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5]
- The new land acquisition rules in Maharashtra, influenced by political considerations, aim to facilitate faster development projects and ensure just compensation to farmers, drawing from policies in states like Gujarat and Telangana.
- In the realm of finance and general-news, the Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Ashish Jaiswal, has proposed a separate draft that permits industries to purchase land directly, potentially bypassing traditional acquisition processes.
- Politics and business intertwine as Maharashtra's divisional commissioners are tasked to submit reports on existing policies and proposed reforms, emphasizing transparency and fair compensation within the central Act during acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement.
