What is Land Acquisition?

Land acquisition is a concept where the government or government authorities such as municipal bodies can acquire your land in return for compensation. This compensation is calculated based upon the market value of the property. The government is also responsible to provide rehabilitation and resettlement of those who were the owners or occupants of the acquired land.

The land acquisition activities are carried out in the following cases:

• To fulfill state or national security requirements set by naval, military, air force or other armed forces.

• To develop public infrastructure such as highways or metro lines. This acquisition cannot happen in case of private hospitals, private educational institutional and private hotels.

• For any project involving agriculture or allied industries, such as dairy, fisheries or meat processing, owned by the government or by farmer’s cooperatives.

• To carry out manufacturing zones, establish industrial corridors or other projects as per the National Manufacturing Policy.

• To carry out water harvesting projects for planned development or improvement of village sites. 

• To establish a government-aided educational and research institution.

• To work on development of housing projects for the poor in urban and rural areas.

• To develop residential projects for the poor or landless, or for people affected by natural calamities.

Now that we know land acquisition meaning and its purpose, here is an insight into what are the land acquisition issues faced by development authorities and the land owners.

• Compensation issues 

• Consent to acquire land

• Rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected

• Returning the unused land

As mentioned above, land acquisition is a complicated process. The government doesn’t necessarily need consent from the occupants of the land if the project is for the development of public infrastructure.