Land acquisition must for industrial and inclusive growth [Nov 2011]

Land acquisition is an unavoidable necessity for rapid industrialisation, employment generation and poverty alleviation, policy makers and industry experts said today, emphasising that rehabilitation and resettlement packages should be on fast track for overall economic prosperity.
“Innovative enterprises must grow in a free market economy,” said member of the Planning Commission Arun Maira while addressing a conference on draft National Land Acquisition and R&R Bill 2011 organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
He said grassroots-level governance at the panchayat level should be empowered to initiate public discourse so that farmers can take an informed decision while selling land for industrial or housing purposes. “People themselves should be able to determine the use of land as it is a limited resource. At the same time, the government is recognising people’s right which is a good phenomenon.”
ASSOCHAM president Dilip Modi said the industry is looking forward to an inclusive policy framework with an effective dispute resolution mechanism. Being a highly appreciable asset, land is of national strategic importance.

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