Assembly approves Land Acquisition Bill CM flays Oppn, asserts to complete M’Sagar by 2017
Hyderabad, Dec.28 : Winter session of Assembly today approved Telangana Land Acquisition Amendment Bill 2016, replacing 2013 land acquisition Act, which paves way for acquiring the land for projects and development works and to pay suitable compensation to the land givers and affected people. With this Telangana joined those states which made amendments to the existing land acquisition act including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and others. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao slammed the opposition parties for moving court and persistent comments against the land acquisition amendment bill, Mallannasagar and other irrigation projects. He ridiculed that the Congress for 2013 land acquisition act which has lacuna and needed amendment through the new bill. Stating that he is aware of the grief of losing the land for Manair dam works, he said that the bill is aimed to provide suitable compensation to the affected people.
During a long debate, he tried to convince that the state government is giving 10 times compensation against the recommendation of three times mentioned in existing act, besides giving Rs 5.4 lakh for two bedroom facility to the affected people. “It is my responsibility to inform the people about the steps being taken by the government for the projects through land acquisition and compensation”, he said. Stating that the State government has complete powers through Article 254 of the Constitution, KCR reiterated to complete the Mallannasagar works by 2017 and give Godavari waters to North Telangana districts by 2018. The government will suppress the Opposition for trying to remain anti-social elements by stalling the developmental works in the state, he warned.
The Chief Minister also flayed the CPM for conspiring against the project and trying to provoke the farmers at Mallannasagar, which led to firing by the police. “Our intention is to ensure that the evacuees and affected people get better benefits on giving their land”, he said and sought to know whether land acquisition was not done for multi-purpose projects like Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam and SRSP and others.
Earlier, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao introduced the bill to make an amendment for 2013 Land Acquisition Act which is not up to the mark. The bill becomes an Act enabling the State government to go in for acquiring the land. “The Opposition needlessly made a hue and cry against the GO 123 and we are for the best possible Act that will help the affected and farmers get better compensation through projects”, he added.