Bangalore, July 09: The central government aims to secure a balance between farmers’ interests and development through a new legislation, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily said Saturday.
The bill is being readied and may be introduced in parliament during its monsoon session starting Aug 1, he told reporters here.
The central government is bringing the new legislation following protests in states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka against acquisition of farm lands for industries or infrastructure projects and in some instances for residential or commercial complexes.
“The focus will be on protecting the interests of farmers and also on sustainable development. There is a need to balance farmers’ welfare and sustainable development,” Moily said.
Rehabilitation of farmers whose lands have been taken over will also be addressed by the proposed legislation, he said.
A bill on prevention of communal violence and another on setting up Lokpal (ombudsman) will also be introduced in the monsoon session, the law minister said.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, addressing a massive farmers’ rally or ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh Saturday, also said the central government will try to bring in a land acquisition bill in the interest of farmers.
“We will try our best to give such a law in the Lok Sabha that is in the interest of farmers, labourers,” he said.
-Agencies