The Central government has indicated that it may be willing to let interested states to circumvent the consent clause and social impact clause in the Land acquisition bill and it may not push for an amendment of the central law.
"If Centre fails to approve this (bill) with consensus, then it should be left to the states. Those states which want to develop fast. Can suggest their own state legislations and Centre (would) approve that state legislation. An overwhelming section gave this kind of suggestion," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.
"We have to find a solution, perhaps the Central government can look at ways and means of amending the existing Land Act such that it gives the freedom to individual states to further have their own versions of it, and they each have to find their own balance between equity for citizens as well as faster economic growth. So, I think some amendment will have to be looked at in order to facilitate a state-wise land law in the country. I don't get the sense that they have put anything in the deep freezer, but obviously the government will have to prioritise, it cannot have its entire wish list dealt with by any session of Parliament," BJD MP Jay Panda said.
Sunil Jain of The Financial Express said that even before the government had assumed power, Arun Shourie had explained that under Article 245 (2) a lot of contentious issues that are also under the purview of states can actually be dealt with by the states, which had happened in labour. The Central government should have done the same with Land Laws, Jain said.
"What will happen is there will be a Central law which will act as a foundation or a base case. And the states can then be allowed to improve upon it. They can pass some amendments seeking to expand the scope of public purpose - maybe for building rural infrastructure, build smart city, etc. So it will be a combination of state and Central law," MK Venu of Amar Ujala Group said.
"This is a concurrent subject where Centre and states can legislate. But the states cannot derogate from the Central law. Arun Jaitley's comment reflects abdication of central responsibility. Then why have a Centre at all? Then, leave everything to the states! This is a copout," Congress member and former rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said.
"Many states had felt that development work was suffering due to the provisions of the 2013 Act. Ordinance was brought about in response to these development concerns of the states and also to ensure that farmers continue to receive their legitimate due," Modi said.
By Premji
