New rehabilitation policy on anvil

Amid the controversy over diversion of farm land for industrial use, the government on Friday committed to bring a new rehabilitation policy backed by amendments in the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for ensuring 'fair pricing of agricultural land'.

"Acquisition of agricultural land for industrial development and related purposes and the terms of compensation have become issues of major public concern in our country," President APJ Abdul Kalam said while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament on Friday.

Therefore, the issues of  'humane rehabilitation' and the need for fair pricing of agricultural land need to be addressed both in policy and in law, he said.

Sharing the genuine concerns of farmers regarding acquisition of agricultural land, the President said there is also a need to generate employment through industry and related activities.

It may be recalled that while addressing the Congress of Chief Ministers' Conclave at Nainital last year, party president Sonia Gandhi had emphasised that farmers should be given fair compensation and efforts should be made to avoid diversion of agricultural land for industrial use.