Land policy brings cheer to farmers, developers
Developers and farmers seem to be happy with the UP Cabinet giving its consent to “mutual agreement and negotiations” between farmers and the agencies acquiring land in deciding the land acquisition rates. The same proposal will be applicable to road and expressway development projects too, said sources.
So far, farmers have often complained that they have always been looted by both government as well as private developers by acquiring their lands at much cheaper rates. They also claim that their land so acquired was further sold to real estate companies for much higher rates. But now, with the new proposal, the farmers would not have complaints since they are also considered a part of the deal and moreover, the acquisition rates will be set by the district-level committees. Both the purchasing agency and land owners will be a part of the same committee, hence the land rate will be decided through a mutual agreement.
The new procedure is likely to bring in transparency to the real estate transaction besides helping in executing the developments faster as there would probably be no opposition from the farmers’ part.
As per the proposal, the land acquisition rates will be announced and kept open to the public for two months during which the concerned parties can lodge complaints, if there is any, against the rates. Experts said that the proposal is being welcomed by all as it seems to be a fair rule catering various sections of the society, with minimal burden on the government. It is likely to deal like a mutually satisfactory arrangement for the state government and farmers. Moreover, the government will not have to pay six times the circle rates, as proposed by some political party, which will not affect the government funds. The farmers are also given a chance to negotiate the land deals by which they can also get better returns.
The government has also announced that, apart from the compensation for land, displaced people will also get all benefits of the state’s Relief and Rehabilitation Policy, 2010. In case if the district level committee fails to reach harmony over the land rates, then the government will proceed to acquire land in line with the existing land acquisition policy.
The move is expected to control the disputes that usually arise with the land dealings, which mostly affect the development and its successful completion. Such disputes and agitations often hamper the growth of the economy. Similar model was implemented by the UP government in 2012 which turned out to be successful.
Besides satisfying the developers and farmers involved in land transactions, the proposal will also leave a good impact on the homebuyers as it offers a sense of security that their investments will surely be fruitful, and their homes will be delivered by the developers within the promised time.
