Study Of ‘Social Impact Assessment’ Under The Right To Fair Compensation And Transparency In Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation And Resettlement Act, 2013
Richa Roy, NMIMS (Deemed to be University) Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Introduction
Land as a resource is very vital for human to sustain their life on earth. As per the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 land is inclusive of its surface, below the surface and above the surface. Thus, it is important not only for living but for the fulfilment of material and non-material desires also. In relation to economical aspect, land is very essential and emerged as a critical resource. Many vital things are attached to it like Urban Expansion, Industrialization, Infrastructure development etc. Apart from this, the agriculture is all the way depended on land which ensures the food security to all the human beings. Further, people’s significant moral, social and cultural values are attached to the land. That’s why the acquisition of the land by the government for any purpose or activity mandates that all the facets of acquisition like the proportional compensation, least adverse effect and all other repercussions must be considered with far sightedness. Today is 21st Century where there is a requirement of well-developed infrastructure, growing industrialization etc. To fulfil such needs of todays world, the land acquisition is essential. But in other hand, these acquisitions have multiple effects on human lives. Land acquisition for any projects or any development interventions cause huge displacement, losses of livelihoods etc. and regard to that lack of any efficient policy measures to compensate the land losers proportionally and to minimize the adverse effects on people leads to protests and violence among the people concerned. Thus, in regard to short out these kinds of issues, The Right to fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 proposes a solution in the way of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study to point out and estimate the costs and benefits to the people and society affected by the acquisition. The Right to fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 has come into force on 1st January, 2014 by replacing the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. This law regulates “the acquisition of land by government (Centre and states except J&K) for industrialization, development of essential infrastructural facilities and urbanization. It puts in place the rules for granting compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to the affected persons”.
