Oppn attacks Maya for changes to land Bill

The UP government has deepened the ongoing controversy over land acquisition in the state by bringing the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development (amendment) Bill 2011 which was passed by the Assembly on Thursday.

The bill seeks to remove a provision that gave landowners the right to ask for restoration of their acquired land if it was unused for five years.

Section 17 of the UP Urban Planning and Development Act 1973 provides for compulsory acquisition of land. Sub-section 1 says that if the government requires land for development, or any other purpose, then it can do so under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act 1894. However, any person whose land has been acquired can apply for restoration of the land if it has not been utilised for five years for the purpose for which it was acquired. The amendment removes this provision.

An official clarified that the amendment will apply to development authorities, like the Lucknow Development Authority, not to industrial development authorities like NOIDA, Greater NOIDA or YEIDA. The step has been taken to protect the land banks of various development authorities which have remained unused for years.

Political parties alleged the Bill was passed without enough time for debate. A BJP delegation met Governor B L Joshi on Friday, requesting him to withhold assent to the bill as it was passed amidst chaos and protest by Samajwadi Party on another issue.

“The bill prevents farmers from reclaiming their land once it is acquired. The Bill is against the interest of the farmers,” said state BJP president Surya Pratap Shahi.