Land acquisition Bill passed in Haryana Assembly amid debate

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 24

A Bill fast tracking land acquisition, especially for the ongoing infrastructure projects, was passed in the Assembly today after acrimonious debate and a walk out by the Congress.

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2021, generated debate in the House with the Treasury benches and the Opposition indulging in charges and counter-charges.

Leading the Opposition attack, Rohtak MLA BB Batra alleged the amendments to the Bill were not acceptable as they went against the aims and objectives of the 2013 Act passed by Parliament. “It is pro-corporate and anti-farmer, and should be referred to the select committee of the House,” said Batra.

Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the Bill would encourage crony capitalism as it sought to vest absolute powers with the district collector in land acquisition matters.

Terming the Bill “draconian”, Congress MLA Kiran Choudhry asserted that certain provisions of the Bill, including land acquisition for infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership and doing away with the social impact assessment, were “anti-poor” and “anti-farmer”.

Amit Sihag of the Congress asserted the new Bill could spark off another agitation by farmers.

Putting up a formidable defence in favour of the Bill, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala claimed the new Bill would speed up the public projects as the land acquisition would become smooth and hassle-free. He asserted 16 states had already amended the 2013 Act in accordance with local conditions.

Dissatisfied by Dushyant’s response, Congress members staged a walk out. Subsequently, the Bill was passed in the absence of Congress MLAs.

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