Land Acquisition amendment bill to be introduced in Monsoon session

The Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said an amendment bill to the Land Acquisition Act would be introduced in the coming Monsoon session of Parliament. Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on the sidelines of the International Summit on Microfinance and the Inclusive Development, the Environment Minister said the centre would oppose forcible land acquisition by the state Governments.

Referring to the Posco Project proposed in Odisha, he said the state Government should adopt democratic practices to acquire land for the project. Ruling out any review over the Environmental clearance given to Posco Project, the minister said there was no need for it as the environmental clearance does not give the state, license for forcible land acquisition.