In a move which is likely to speed up implementation of smaller projects delayed due to land acquisition problems, the State Government has decided to directly negotiate with land owners for purchase.
Officials have been asked to directly go for purchase of land to maintain transparency in the deals. Such an approach will be tried in the case of minor irrigation projects, power distribution centres, drinking water supply projects, connectivity from the State highway and other small projects.
Several departments are facing delay in availing land required for small projects and it has led to cost escalation, which has become a major problem for them. Official sources said land acquisition process for smaller projects is taking more than two years in many cases, senior officials said.
Besides, projects started under the MP and MLALAD funds are also remaining incomplete in many cases because land is not available. The decision will be applicable to projects which require 25 acres of land. Keeping this in view, it was decided to offer the price stipulated by bench mark valuation plus 1.75 times over the value to the land owners.
The new approach is expected to simplify the complicated process of land acquisition and save time for projects, which will be executed in a time-bound manner. Official sources said the process of land acquisition many times gives rise to local protest delaying the entire process. This is true for big as well as small projects.
The present land acquisition system is time taking and the new land acquisition policy adopted by the Centre will further delay the process.
To avoid such delay, district officials have been asked to go for direct approach in land acquisition, which will speed up the implementation of small infrastructure projects in a time- bound manner.