Curation Team
PUNE: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told the legislative council on Tuesday that owners who give up their land through ‘consensual approval’ for civic projects may receive benefits of ‘compulsory acquisition’, if a particular case merits it.
He was replying to a question from MLC Yogesh Tilekar. “Landowners in civic areas avoid giving up land voluntarily to avail additional benefits of compulsory acquisition. It delays projects,” Tilekar said.
As per the prevailing practice, willing landowners are receiving less compensation and also need to pay income tax on the amount received. However, if the land is acquired compulsorily, the owner gets more remuneration and the amount is not taxable.
Tilekar said an amendment should be made to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, to enable allocation of increased compensation. It will help in speeding up the acquisition across the state, he said.
Bawankule said although a “blanket change in land acquisition policy or Act is not possible, decisions of additional benefits to landowners with consent award can be taken on a case-by-case basis in case of any dispute.” If a drastic change in the Act is made, it may cause land acquisition problems, Bawankule said.
According to Pune Municipal Corporation officials, among the projects currently in various stages of execution are Katraj-Kondhwa road, 24X7 water supply, riverfront development, and pollution abatement of the Mula and Mutha rivers.
The Act introduced on Sept 26, 2013, aims to ensure a fair, transparent and humane land acquisition process, providing compensation and rehabilitation to affected families, and ensuring they become partners in development.
