Controversial clauses may go from Land Acquisition Ordinance as Sangh Parivar joins Opposition

NEW DELHI: Taking cognizance of the strong resistance to the Land Acquisition Ordinance from even within the Sangh Parivar, the government is likely to tone down some of the controversial provisions when it brings in the Bill to replace it with an Act of Parliament in the Budget session starting on Monday.

The RSS is understood to have conveyed to BJP president Amit Shah in a meeting on February 20 that the legislation was one of the main reasons for party’s poor show in outer Delhi areas during the recent Assembly elections.

The government was earlier adamant to push forth the legislation in its present form but the widespread opposition to the Bill from across the country has forced it to change its tough stance. “It is true that the Land Acquisition is required in national interest to set-up industries, open schools and colleges. But the level of dissatisfaction among the farmers is immense and the issue is extremely sensitive. The government is not ready to face any unrest at the crucial time. Political considerations have to be kept in mind,” sources in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) disclosed.

A top BJP leader said there are mainly two clauses that are contentious: waiving off the consent clause and Social Impact Assessment for public private partnership (PPP) projects and private companies. “The legislation leaves it vague and to the interpretation of the states, and it is not acceptable to the stakeholders. They want clearly stated provisions with no scope for ambiguity,” said the leader.

The Land Acquisition Ordinance, had done away with the requirement of written consent from 70% of landowners for PPP projects in the infrastructure and social infrastructure sectors. Also, social impact assessment was not required for such projects. “This was needed since PPP projects account for 60% of the Rs 18 lakh crore worth of stalled projects in the country,” he added.