land acquisition/sez & displacement – 2011 - Indian Social Institute

the apex court, Tamil Nadu alleged that Kerala, despite a status quo order by the apex court, was makingpublic statements on issues of pulling down the century-old dam and constructing a new one in its place.According to Tamil Nadu, the statements emanating from Kerala were “creating deep rooted animosities”between the people of the two states and posing grave threat to the peace and law and order situation inthe two neighbouring states. Chandy, who is on his way to Delhi, is slated to meet the Prime Minister andother Central leaders tomorrow to drum up support for the construction of a new dam in place of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar reservoir, citing safety concerns. (Financial Express 2/12/11)Don’t acquire multi-crop irrigated land, state to Centre (4)Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Thursday recommended to the Centre that multi-crop irrigatedland should not be acquired under the proposed national land acquisition policy. While differing with thecentral proposal on several counts, it also recommended that rehabilitation and resettlement beapplicable only to those persons whose livelihood was dependent on land, excluding landowners, as theyare being compensated through the negotiated purchase price. A state government panel, which includedDeputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kaironand Local Bodies and Industries Minister Tikhsan Sud, on Thursday declared that the land acquisitionpolicy of the state was the best in the country, as Punjab gives market rate. There has been hardly anylitigations after land was acquired in the state. Recommending that there was no need for a uniform landacquisition policy, the panel stated that the states should be given the freedom to decide on the policy.The panel also suggested that the government should be allowed to change the purpose for which landwas originally acquired. It added that when private companies purchase land, rehabilitation package asfar as land is concerned was already included in the market price, so there was no need to give thispackage to landowners. Once the total package was given, the additional compensation wasunwarranted, it added. The panel has pointed out that there was a need to clarify whether the consent oflandowners — who own 80 per cent of the area or the alternative consent of 80 per cent land owners —is to be obtained. Stating that consent of 80 per cent farmers and families will be difficult to obtain, itrecommended that a small farmer should be a person who has less than one hector of land. It added thatthe social impact assessment study will not only increase the cost of land acquisition, but also be moretime consuming. Therefore, it should only be done in cases where acquisition is more than 100 acres.According to sources, the panel also suggested that while calculating the minimum value of land, onlyvalue of large plots of more than one acre should be calculated. Moreover, only IAS officers should bemade the executive officer for land acquisition. It further recommended that acquisition of land for damsand canals was required to be put under emergency clause of public purposes. (Indian Express 2/12/11)SEZ scam: Parrikar lodges plaint (4)PANAJI: Claiming that the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) scam is to the tune of over 400 crore,opposition leader Manohar Parrikar on Friday lodged a complaint with director general of police AdityaArya to file a first information report (FIR) against former chief minister and speaker Pratapsingh Rane,former industries minister Luizinho Faleiro, Goa Industries Development Corporation chairmanChandrakant 'Babu' Kavlekar and others in the SEZ scam. Parrikar, in his complaint, said that theaccused have committed offences under Section 109,114,409,467,468,471 and 120(B) of IPC andSection 13(i)(d) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Parrikar said that primafacie evidence has been attached to the complaint. "I informed the police that all the documents which arereferred to in the complaint, but not annexed, are in my possession. These maybe collected from me asand when the investigation agency deems fit," Parrikar said. He also demanded that the police shouldimmediately register a FIR and threatened to approach the judicial magistrate first class to seek directivesfor a FIR on his complaint. Parrikar said that Rane and others are in a position to influence theinvestigation and no police officer will have courage to question them. "I will also approach the high courtor Supreme Court for demanding that this inquiry is handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI)," the opposition leader added. Parrikar said his complaint is based on the findings of CAG report2008, where it is mentioned that due to SEZ allotment, the Goan exchequer had to face a loss of 102crore in allotting 86 plots for SEZs without following a transparent process. "The CAG has said that it is a102 crore loss, but my estimate is around 400-500 crore and I suspect kickbacks of 50 crore in the SEZscam," said Parrikar. (Times of India 3/12/11)