The government today unveiled a new draft bill putting in place a transparent, legal framework aimed at giving adequate compensation to land owners and ensuring rehabilitation of those displaced.

New Delhi: Amid a raging controversy over land acquisition, Government today unveiled a new draft bill putting in place a transparent, legal framework aimed at giving adequate compensation to land owners and ensuring rehabilitation of those displaced.

The much-awaited 'The Draft National Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation & Resettlement Bill, 2011', which has been put in public domain, says "in case of urban areas, the award amount would be not less that twice that of the market value determined whereas in rural areas it would be not less that six times the original market value".

The draft bill proposes that the consent of 80 per cent of the project-affected families will be mandatory if the government acquires land for use by private companies for stated public purpose or PPP projects other than that for national highway.

It also states that the public purpose once stated cannot be changed.

The draft suggests that under no circumstances should multi-cropped, irrigated land be acquired. Most of such land lies in the Indo-Gangetic plains covering Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.

Also government will not be acquiring land for private companies for private purpose.

Observing that land markets in India are "imperfect", Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said his foreword to the draft that there is asymmetry of power and information between those wanting to acquire the land and those whose lands are being acquired.

"That is why there has to be a role for the government to put in place a transparent and flexible set of rules and regulations and to ensure its enforcement," he said.

PTI