Protests force Telangana government to rethink on land policy

Hyderabad: The Rehabilitation and Resettlement clause is all set to make a comeback in the TS government’s land acquisition policy.

The unfortunate suicide by a farmer in Medak and intense agitations against land acquisition for Mallannasagar project has forced TS government to incorporate R&R clause again in its policy (GO 123). Originally, the R&R clause was very much part of GO 123 when it was issued in October 2015.

However, the government removed it in November 2015, ostensibly to bring down land acquisition costs. This has now become a major obstacle to land acquisition.  In the revised policy, a 2BHK house and a job will be offered to oustee’s family.

Bowing to intense agitations from farmers and Opposition parties, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had offered to give compensation either under state’s policy or the Centre’s Land Acquisition Act, 2013, as desired by farmers.

However, the government is still keen on acquiring land under state's policy as it feels that Centre's Act is time consuming. Besides, the government will have to conduct social impact study with experts and make gram panchayats part of the acquisition process by holding gram sabhas under the Centre’s Act. The state's policy does not require conduct of gram sabhas or social impact study.

With Mr Rao keen on completing irrigation projects in three years by spending over Rs 1.25 lakh-crore, he wants land acquisition to be done faster as per state’s policy but offer all the benefits of the Centre’s Act to farmers.

CMO sources said Mr Rao directed Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, revenue principal secretary Pradeep Chandra and CCLA Raymond Peter to revise the state policy on land acquisition offering R&R package.

Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said, “Revision of GO 123 is under active consideration. The CM has made certain suggestions on how R&R should be offered and officials are working out the modalities. All the benefits the Centre’s Act has to offer will be offered by state government.”

The R&R package will be applicable not only for future acquisitions but also for those whose lands have been already acquired for irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram, Sitarama, Palamur-Ranga Reddy, Dindi and even for Pharma City.

The government needs to acquire 1,04,628 acres for irrigation projects.
It has already acquired 20,000 acres in Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Medak districts under GO 123 and needs to acquire another 20,000 acres.

For Pharma City on the city outskirts at Mucherla, nearly 12,500 acres need to be acquired of which 6,000 acres were already acquired as per GO 123. Under R&R package, a 2BHK house and a job to the member of a family will be offered.