Centre to introduce new law against land acquisition: Moily

MANGALORE - Union Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said the Central Government would introduce a new law to set guidelines on acquisition of farm land for industrial and other commercial purposes and make sure that the lands are purchased at the existing market value.

“The draft law had been prepared and it would be placed before the Parliament during the coming budget session,” Moily told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

“We are attempting to bring about a change in the process of land acquisition for industry and other commercial purposes. Our concern is that the farmer should not be put into any kind of discomfort when such land is acquired,” he added.

Moily further said the Union government would take an appropriate decision on Telangana issue after the Srikrishna Commission appointed for the purpose submits its report.

The seven-point term of reference announced by the Union Government on February 12 has mandated the Justice Srikrishna Committee to “examine the situation in Andhra Pradesh with reference to the demand for a separate state of Telangana as well as the demand for maintaining the present status of united Andhra”.

The Government constituted the committee on February 3, nearly two months after it had announced that steps have been initiated for the formation of a separate state of Telangana. The Commission is expected to table its crucial report deciding the fate of Telangana on December 31.

The Telangana region is spread over ten northern districts of Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)