Question : RECOMMENDATIONS OF NHRC ON LAND ACQUISITION ACT, 1984

(a) whether the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended that the provision for resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons due to big projects be made a part of Land Acquisition Act, 1984 as reported in the `Times of India` dated January 17, 2001;

(b) whether the Commission has also received a petition from the National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) in this regard;

(c) if so, the details in this connection and facts of the matter reported in the said newspaper;

(d) whether the Government propose to amend the Land Acquisition Act 1984; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 13 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 20.2.2001 REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NHRC ON THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT,1984

In the News Item published in The Times of India dated 17th January, 2001 has been reported that National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said that provisions for the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons, due to big projects, be made a part of the Land Acquisition Act or a separate legislation be enacted so that such provisions were made justiciable.

2. The NHRC, in its letter dated 9th January, 2001 to the Ministry of Rural Development have intimated that the Commission has received a petition from National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) wherein they (NCPNR) have sought suitable recommendations to the Government for incorporation of provisions for resettlement and rehabilitation of project-affected persons in the proposed Land Acquisition (Amendment ) Bill.

3. Necessary steps are in hand to amend the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and the proposals have been examined by a Group of Ministers constituted for this purpose. The Discussions have also recently been held with the National Human Rights Commission.