Railways to acquire land for early completion of projects
Parliament passed a bill that will give power to the Railways to acquire land for the speedy completion of its projects in different states, with the Rajya Sabha approving the measure.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Parliament on Thursday passed a bill that will give power to the Railways to acquire land for the speedy completion of its projects in different states, with the Rajya Sabha approving the measure.
The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2008, was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha.
Moving the bill in the Upper House, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said there was no need for panic that the legislation would give the railways power to grab land, as apprehended by some members.
He said some of the proposed key railway projects, including in places like Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, could not take off due to delay in handing over of land by the state government.
"We cannot allow our projects to move at snail's pace," he said, adding at some places, efforts were also on to "fail" some projects.
After his brief reply, the bill was passed by voice vote. Earlier, taking part in the discussion, S S Ahluwalia (BJP) favoured that the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha examine the bill which, he felt, would affect the interest of small landholders who earn bread and butter from their land belonging to their forefathers.
Moinul Hassan (CPI) said since land is a state subject, this bill could be contradictory to the provisions of Land Acquisition Act of 1894.
Shreegopal Vyas (BJP) said states should have been taken into confidence before the bill was introduced by the Railway Ministry.
The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2008, was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha.
Moving the bill in the Upper House, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said there was no need for panic that the legislation would give the railways power to grab land, as apprehended by some members.
He said some of the proposed key railway projects, including in places like Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, could not take off due to delay in handing over of land by the state government.
"We cannot allow our projects to move at snail's pace," he said, adding at some places, efforts were also on to "fail" some projects.
After his brief reply, the bill was passed by voice vote. Earlier, taking part in the discussion, S S Ahluwalia (BJP) favoured that the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha examine the bill which, he felt, would affect the interest of small landholders who earn bread and butter from their land belonging to their forefathers.
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Moinul Hassan (CPI) said since land is a state subject, this bill could be contradictory to the provisions of Land Acquisition Act of 1894.
Shreegopal Vyas (BJP) said states should have been taken into confidence before the bill was introduced by the Railway Ministry.
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