Question : LAND FOR SETTING UP OF INDUSTRIES

(a) the policy of the Government with regard to making land available for setting up of industries in the country;

(b) Whether a number of companies/power plants in Janjgir-Champa districts of Chhattisgarh have acquired 100%agricultural land and have set up/are going to set up their industries on that land;

(c) if so, the reaction of the Government there to alongwith the policy of the Government for providing any assistance to these land owners where land have been acquired and particularly to the people belonging to scheduled tribes;

(d) whether the Government has formulated any policy with regard to rehabilitation of the displaced people; and

(e) if so, the details alongwith salient features of the package being provided to the people whose land has been acquired?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI)

(a) (d) & (e): The Land and its management falls within the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of the State Governments as provided under Entry No.18 of the State List (List II) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. The acquisition of land for various projects is done by the concerned State Governments/UTs including State Government of Chhattisgarh under the provisions of Land Acquisition Act,1894. The salient features of the policy of the Government for acquiring land for development purposes, including industry are reflected in National Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy (NRRP), 2007. The policy aims to minimize large-scale displacement, as far as possible. Only the minimum area of land commensurate with the purpose of the project may be acquired. Also, as far as possible, projects may be set up on wastelands, degraded or un-irrigated land. Acquisition of agriculture land for non-agriculture use in the project may be kept to the minimum, multi-cropped land may be avoided to the extent possible for such purposes and acquisition of irrigated land if un-avoidable may be kept to the minimum. The Policy also provides comprehensive rehabilitation & resettlement benefits to the affected families. Further, Para 7.21 of the Policy provides specific Rehabilitation & Resettlement benefits for project affected families belonging to the Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes. These inter-alia include Tribal Development Plan in case of displacement of 200 and more Scheduled Tribal Families. Consultations are necessary with the concerned Tribal Advisory Councils (TACs) in Schedule VI Areas and the concerned Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level in Schedule V areas as per Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, 1996. Preference in allotment of land- for- land, one time additional financial assistance equivalent to five hundred days minimum agricultural wages, free land for community and religious gatherings etc.

(b): No Sir

(c) In view of answer to (b) above, the question does not arise.