Question : NORMS FOR SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE

(a) whether the Government is aware that several State Governments have acquired farmer’s land and have provided it to private companies for commercial activities and for setting up of SEZs;

(b) if so, the details thereof during the last two years, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to frame any regulation for limiting the acquisition of land by State Governments/Industry so that it does not reduce agricultural land;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether acquisition of land has led to migration of farmers and rural artisans from villages and rendered them jobless;

(g) if so, whether the affected farmers/land dwellers have been rehabilitated compensated adequately;

(h) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(i) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps taken for the rehabilitation and employment of the affected people?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU)

(a) & (b) Land being a State subject in the Constitution, its management falls within the administrative jurisdiction of the State Governments. The role of the Central Government in this regard is only advisory and coordinating. Each State acquires land for various purposes under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which is also applicable for acquisition of land for companies and the Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

(c) to (e) Ministry of Commerce & Industry have advised the State Governments that in case of land acquisition for SEZs, first priority should be for acquisition of waste and barren land, and, if necessary, single crop agricultural land could be acquired for the SEZs. They had been further advised that if perforce a portion of double cropped agricultural land has to be acquired to meet the minimum area requirements, especially for multi-product SEZs, the same should not exceed 10% of the total land required for such SEZ.

(f) to(i) The Ministry of Rural Development had formulated the National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation-2003 (NPRR-2003), which was approved by the Cabinet on 15th January, 2004. Also, many State Governments and Central public sector undertakings/agencies have their own resettlement and rehabilitation policies. The provisions of NPRR-2003 prescribe the basic minimum provisions, however, State government and Central public sector undertakings/agencies are free to follow the provisions of their own policies to the extent these provide greater benefit levels than those provided in NPRR-2003. While NPRR-2003 and R&R policies of the State governments and Central public sector undertakings/agencies have successfully tackled many of the problems that have plagued the displacement process, several issues of resettlement and rehabilitation are still perceived to be inadequately addressed.

The revised draft Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy is being examined by a Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted by the Cabinet Secretariat to finalize the drafts of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy and associated legislative measures in cases relating to land acquisition, for consideration of the Cabinet. In the draft R & R Policy, provisions have been made for rehabilitation and resettlement of persons affected by land acquisition and involuntarily displaced for any reasons. Also, there is a provision in the draft policy that Requiring Body (RB) shall give preference in employment to affected persons who lose their employment due to the project, subject to availability of vacancies and suitability of the affected person for the employment.