Draft of new land acquisition could provide muscle to farmers' agitations

NEW DELHI: The draft land acquisition bill could provide muscle to the farmers' agitations as it has proposed a higher stake for the displaced from the sale of acquired land. Put simply, a farmer would have to be given an additional sum -- the bill proposes 20%-- in the event of the acquired land being resold at a higher price by its developer.

This proposal is certain to provide fresh impetus to the farmers' agitation in Noida. As the farmers have now been promised 20% of the resale value of real estate developed in areas like Noida, they are certain to intensify their agitation. This could also have its ripple effect felt in other parts of the country where land acquisition has become a contentious issue.

The new draft Acquisition Bill, which is expected to be unveiled in the next few days, includes recommendations of Sonia Gandhi-led NAC and goes even a step further. "In many ways it is an improvement of what the NAC has said," NC Saxena, a member in the council, said after a discussion on the draft bill chaired by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday.