AP govt plans new land Act

​Amaravati: In an apparent bid to make way for acquisition of lands in a hassle-free manner to unleash industrial growth in the “Sunrise AP”, the state Cabinet which met here on Saturday resolved to adopt the ‘Gujarat model’ of Land Acquisition Act.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at a media briefing at the Secretariat, informed that the government was mulling over introducing a new Act even as the existing Central Act- Land Acquisition Act, 2013 (The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act, 2013), became a major hindrance in alienation of lands from farmers for establishing industries.

The Land Acquisition Act, 2013, considered as stringent for investors and soft for land owners, has become a major roadblock to the government’s drive for promotion of industries, building infrastructure projects such as ports and airports and the industrial corridors forcing the government to go for a new one.

The attempts by the Telangana government to tinker with the Central Act hit a wall as the move raised serious legal issues. It may be recalled that the NDA government was forced to give up its attempts for amending the Act for want of support in the Rajya Sabha after bringing in two ordnances.

The government felt the heat of land losers in the Bogapuram airport project in Vizianagaram district and deep port project at Machilipatnam while its moves to create land bank with 13 lakh acres for industries failed to inch ahead for want of an “industry-friendly” land acquisition rules.

The Chief Minister said at a media briefing that it was decided to delegate the legal rights over the `dot lands’ to the extent of 23 lakh acres to the farmers who have been enjoying for the last 15 years. The rights will be transferred to the legitimate farmers after due inquiry of dossiers establishing their enjoyment rights, he added.

Health for All
The government has decided to implement a universal health scheme with a catchy phrase of health for all from January 1 as a New Year bonanza. The health insurance scheme would be made applicable for all families on payment of Rs 100 per month by each family as a premium.

The whole family members would get health insurance coverage up to Rs 2 lakh. The new scheme would be launched on January first as part of New Year initiative. Applications would be received from January 1 to February 28. The scheme would come in to force from March 1.

The Cabinet has also approved to pay Rs 480 for Gandikota Project Reservoir victims who are facing submergence threat. In the wake of resistance from land losers demanding a fair deal, Naidu appealed to the protesters to make way for the project, claiming that the government will do justice every project victim. It was decided to build `model colonies’ at the scavengers colony at Tirupati and Jakkampudi on the outskirts of Vijayawada city.