The National Advisory Council's (NAC) idea about a uniformland acquisition policy - with the government being responsible for all public purpose transfer of tracts - has not found all-round support. There are no differences on safeguarding the rights of farmers and landowners. But experts say the most essential aspect is to put in place a powerful institutional mechanism for conflict resolution that will also supervise the process of acquisition. In the...

The revised blueprint for land acquisition envisages government retaining its facilitator role Contentious Issues     * Protests are often against land acquisition per se, regardless of compensation     * Most protests are against private builders acquiring land, changing land use. New norms don’t tackle this.     * Poor government track record in R&R does not inspire much confidence; merged bills won’t work for rehabilitation after natural calamities, etc     * Can the government, which...

They may not be in news like their counterparts in Bhatta-Parsaul, but the fight of farmers in Noida against the satellite city Authorityand the UP government is nothing new. It's been on since 1976 when land was acquired for the first time to lay the foundation stone of Noida. And this fight hasn't been completely futile. On July 30, 2010, Allahabad high court directed the Noida Authority to pay reviewed...

Good politics and good economics can make compatible bedfellows, if the timing is right. Food, its producers and consumers, are now the Centre's most potent political and economic battleground. Politically speaking, this could be the best time for the UPA to reclaim its dog-eared pro-people credentials through the Bill. The Right to Food Bill has triggered many apprehensions, including fears of a higher subsidy burden, an adverse impact on private...

Leaders of political parties extend support to villagers It is a spontaneous people's movement, says Jhadaphia The first bugle of revolt against the proposal to set up a 6000 MW capacity nuclear power plant at Jaspara-Mithi Virdi village in Bhavnagar district in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat was sounded on Friday. The village panchayats of over 50 coastal villages in the district, which apprehend direct impact if the nuclear power plant is set...