The new Land Bill has provision for return of unutilized land

Government has informed that the The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 (LARR) Bill, 2011 has provision for return of the unutilized land. Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Lalchand Kataria said during question hour in the Rajya Sabha that Clause 95 of the LARR Bill, 2011 provides that when any land or part thereof, acquired under this Act remains unutilized for a period of ten years from the date of taking over the possession, the same shall return to the Land Bank of the appropriate Government by reversion. Land Acquisition Act, 1894 has no provision for return of the unutilized land. The new Bill has been finalised and the Union Cabinet is likely to take it up soon so that it can be brought in Parliament in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. Shri Kataria said that the Group of Ministers has already finalized its report in its three meetings held on 27th September, 2012 and 8th and 16th of October, 2012.

Earlier, the LARR Bill, 2011 was approved by the Cabinet on 5th September and it was introduced in Parliament two days later. The Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and the Committee after detailed examination has submitted its 31st Report on the above Bill to the Lok Sabha on 17th May, 2012, which was laid in the Rajya Sabha on the same day. Shri Kataria informed that based on the recommendations or otherwise of the 31st Report, the Bill was considered by the Cabinet on 28th August, 2012 and it was referred to the GoM.

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