The bill was passed by Parliament last year
The Land Acquisition Act, a showpiece legislation which bore Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's imprint, is set to undergo changes at the hands of Narendra Modi government.
At a meeting convened by Union Rural Development minister Nitin Gadkari, most of the BJP-ruled states demanded immediate changes in the law. "We have received many valuable suggestions from the states. We will prepare a report and submit it to the Prime Minister," said Mr Gadkari after the meeting.
Goa revenue minister Francis D'Souza was among those who advocated changes in the law passed by the previous UPA government, arguing that the new law should fast-track land acquisition. Other BJP-ruled states contended that the provision of social impact assessment in the present law delays the process. Madhya Pradesh revenue minister Rampal Singh insisted that the law is a hindrance even in setting up a small project as the purchase of land for it would require consent from 80 per cent of its owners.
States also argued that compensation to be paid to owner should be a one-time affair, and favoured doing way with the provision of giving annuity to landowners for 20 years. "We are looking at ways of improving the compensation," said the Union Rural Development Minister.
Congress leaders, however, say they will put up a stiff resistance to any changes to the law in its present form, which had the BJP's support. "In Parliament, the BJP participated in the discussion on the land acquisition bill, hailing it as one of the best pieces of legislation aimed at compensating the farmer. Why this u-turn now?" asked former Union Minister Manish Tewari.
Violent protests over land acquisition in places like Singur and Nandigram in West Bengal forced the UPA to change the 1894 Land Acquisition Act and bring a new one last year to ensure better compensation. Industry bodies, however, have often said the new law is tough to implement and there needs to be a middle ground. Perhaps what the new government will strive to do just that.