Category: Land and Rights

Andhra Pradesh passes amendments to Centre’s land acquisition law; a boost for private property rights

Andhra Pradesh has passed an amendment to the Centre’s Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 (LARR 2013), after over two years of legal and constitutional challenges. With this move, the Andhra Pradesh government has finally succeeded in reducing the acquisition of private agricultural land to a simple agreement initiated by the district collector. This statutory change bypasses the procedures the LARR 2013 had put in place, expediting land acquisition for the state’s new capital Amaravati under Andhra Pradesh’s controversial land pooling scheme that eliminates monetary compensation for land acquisition. Read more

Courtesy: First Post

Maharashtra Denies Habitat Rights to the Most Backward Tribal Communities

In January 2016, a decade after the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was passed by Parliament, 60 gram sabhas in Khutgaon, Gadchiroli, became the first forest-dwelling people in Maharashtra to file a claim for habitat rights. These people are part of a community called Madia Gond, classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG). Almost three years since their claims were submitted, since also approved by the authorised body, they are yet to receive their legal titles.

PVTG is a subcategory of scheduled tribes (ST), characterised by a pre-agricultural level of technology, stagnant or declining population, extremely low literacy rate and subsistence level of economy. There are 75 listed PVTGs in India; Maharashtra has three: Katkaria or Kathodi in Thane and Raigad districts, Kolam in Yavatmal district and Madia Gond in Gadchiroli district. Among STs, the PVTGs have distinct societies and cultures rooted in their territories and forests. Most PVTGs are known to identify themselves as part of a larger clan of villages of the same community, with large and shared bio-cultural territories. These territories or habitats provide livelihood and resources as well as social and spiritual significance. Read more

Courtesy: The Wire

Property and land rights are key to women empowerment: Vice President

New Delhi: The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that empowerment of women is central to achieving the objective of inclusive, equitable and sustainable development and it is not only a national goal but also a global agenda.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the International Conference on ‘Empowering Women: Fostering Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability’ organized by the NITI Aayog and Shri Ram College of Commerce, here today.

The Lt. Governor of Puducherry, Dr. Kiran Bedi, the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Prof. Yogesh Tyagi and the CEO of NITI Ayog, Shri Amitabh Kant and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Read more

Courtesy: Pragatiwadi

Japan stops cash for bullet train after project stalled over land row

The protest against land acquisition for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project has become a huge roadblock for the cash flow from Japan.

The latest installment that funding agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was supposed to release for last quarter, did not reach, said sources from Gujarat government. The JICA stopped the payment on the grounds that the project did not show any progress due to several disputes.

A senior state official, said on condition of anonymity, “As issues over acquisition of land for the bullet train project surfaced in Gujarat as well as in Maharashtra, no progress could be made. The agreements for payment of installment is conditional and the funds arrive from JICA if the progress is constant. The first installment of Rs 125 crore was sanctioned when the Japanese PM visited Gujarat in last September.” Read more

Courtesy: DNA

Anti-Sterlite protests: HC seeks report on Sterlite prior to riots, firing

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday asked the State to submit reports, videos and other documentary evidence pertaining to the anti-Sterlite protests prior to the Thoothukudi riots, which took place on the 100th day of the protests.

A division bench of Justices C.T. Selvam and A.M. Basheer Ahamed also sought Intelligence reports of the Thoothukudi police. The State has been directed to submit its reports on July 18.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate A.W.D. Tilak of Thoothukudi, who sought a copy of the Section 144 CrPC order (prohibitory order) clamped in parts of the city during the anti-Sterlite protests. Read more

Courtesy: The Hindu

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