Implement Chawla panel recommendations on land acquisition: ASSOCHAM

As the land acquisition for industrial and public purposes remains a contentious issue, ASSOCHAM President Rajkumar N Dhoot has said that recommendations of the Ashok Chawla Committee on Natural Resources should be implemented to ensure transparency in maintaining land records and using part of notional gains by the land acquirer for public welfare.
 

Dhoot said land is a sensitive and sentimental issue for the farmers. On the other hand, for economic growth and removal of poverty, India has to go in for a planned urbanisation.  For this, land is a crucial requirement.  Some of the models adopted by the states like Haryana have been successful. There is no forceful acquisition of land but it is acquired with their consent.

Rajkumar N Dhoot

Farmers would agree for parting with their land if they too gain from the development process, he said.

In its report submitted to the government in May, 2011, the Chawla Committee had made some useful recommendations which, if implemented, can resolve several of the knotty problems confronting the whole issue of land acquisition.

“The bottomline should be: win/win situation for the acquirer as also the farmers who is parting with the land,” Dhoot said.

One of the most contentious issues relates to the quantum of compensation paid to the farmers. This arises out of a wide difference between the market price of land and the value which is shown in the government records, known as ‘Schedule of Rates’ (SoRs). The SoRs form the basis for giving compensation to farmers.

As per the committee’s recommendation, there should be regular updating of SoRs in line with the corresponding market rates. “Once the gap between the market rates and the SoRs is brought to a minimum, there would be less pressure for allotment of land at the so-called institutional rates.

The committee made an important recommendation regarding transparency in land data. The records should include the complete ownership details, areas allotted and possible land uses along with the actual status as regards utilization and encroachments . There should also be use of satellite images and Geographic Information   System (GIS) mapping for ensuring a transparent and efficient public land management. “This is one of the key takeaways from the Chawla Committee and should be implemented,” the ASSOCHAM President said.

Yet another recommendation of the panel was that the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) should be relaxed to ensure maximum FAR. This would allow the most optimum land use.

The ASSOCHAM would also stress upon implementing a suggestion that there should be a high level oversight organ for ensuring regular monitoring of all cases of land alienation by the Central Government organizations. There should also be a Central Depository of Land records. “This would ensure accountability and transparency in alienation of public land assets”.

So far as the national capital of Delhi is concerned, the Chawla panel suggested an immediate constitution of a regulary body. “We are all for implementation of this important suggestion. This would also bring transparency in the housing sector. The monitoring and oversight functions of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which functions under the administrative control of the Union Urban Development Ministry, should be taken over and given to the regulatory body.

“The DDA should only focus on building houses, especially for the weaker and middle segments of the population in the capital city, “the chamber said.