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Govt reaches out to oppn with changes in land bill

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Farmers’ interests are only one part of designing a workable land acquisition law

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विवादास्पद भूमि संशोधन बिल को लोकसभा की मंजूरी

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the land acquisition bill after a marathon debate, with the government managing to keep its allies together though it failed to rein in Shiv Sena .The government now braces for a tough battle in Rajya Sabha where it lacks majority , as evident in the near-unprecedented event of its humiliation by the opposition which forced amendments to the motion of thanks on the President’s address.For the ruling coalition, the good news is that it managed support from Akali Dal which had criticized the law and insisted that the "consent clause" be restored, as also LJP. While Shiv Sena stuck to its guns to not vote for the bill, it stopped short of voting against it and merely abstained.Importantly, Biju Janata Dal, which was scathing in its comments and had termed restoration of "consent clause" and "social impact assessment" as non-negotiable, staged a walkout instead of voting against the bill.However, what would be of concern to the government is that the opposition stayed united. Trinamool Congress voted against the bill as did Samajwadi Party , groups seen as vulnerable in view of the meetings of their chiefs with the prime minister in recent weeks.: Anna Hazare to start padayatra against Modi govt's "anti-farmer" billGovt isolated, but will still table land bill in Lok SabhaLand Bill: Modi says will drop any provision seen as anti-farmerIf this line-up stays in the upper House, the government faces the prospect of either the bill being sent to a parliamentary panel for vetting -- standing committee or select committee -- or its rejection. Only in the case of the latter would the government be able to call a joint sitting of Parliament to push it through and the opposition is learnt to be preparing a resolution seeking its referral to the select panel.Brought to replace the ordinance promulgated in December to amend UPA’s law which the government dubbed an impediment to industrialization, the bill was criticized by the opposition as reverting to the 1894 law which vested authorities with inviolable power to take over land, referring to the removal of "consent clause" from the law.The government argued that the bill was in the interest of farmers and that UPA’s law had made acquisition of land for growth activities impossible. Rural development minister Birender Singh referred to the nine amendments to blunt the projection of the bill as pro-corporate and anti-farmer.Not restoring "consent" in any form, the changes to the bill limit industrial corridors to one kilometre on both sides of highways and railway lines, provide for compulsory employment to one member of the affected family of farm labourers, provides for redressal of grievances at the district level and prescribes that states determine that acquisition of land for a project is bare minimum.The dropping of exemption to "social infrastructure" projects was dictated by the argument that private individuals could misuse it to open colleges and hospitals.The opposition moved 52 amendments which were either negated or were not pressed by the members. Later, Congress, SP, TMC, Left and others walked out to let the bill be passed by a voice vote. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was not present during the debate.