Land Acquisition Act has 'loopholes', says Medha Patkar

Noted social activist Medha Patkar today claimed there are "loopholes" in the Land Acquisition Act and political parties should listen to the voice of the "struggling people" if they want to resolve the conflicts over the issue of land.

"UPA government has passed some of the key legislations, with political benefits in mind in the coming elections, including the new land act but there are still many loopholes in it," she said at the end of a two-day meeting of various rights groups which discussed issues relating to land acquisition.

"We are at a new point today, there are mixed feelings regarding the new law. On the one hand, its a good thing that an old law by British is being replaced by a new one due to numerous urban and rural movements, on the other hand there is a lot to be done," Patkar said.

The National Alliance Of People's Movement (NAPM) has been demanding changes in new land act, The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 which shall come into force from 1 January 2014.

"If political parties are serious about addressing the conflicts over the land and the other natural resources then they must listen to the voice of the struggling people," she added.

"The new Act does not protect land rights or deals with historic injustices committed in name of development and public purpose. There must justice for dalits, adivasis, landless workers and farmers," said Bhupinder Singh Rawat of Jan Sangharsh Vahini.