By IANS,
Ranchi : To solve the problem of acquiring land for industries, the Jharkhand government has decided to make farmers aware of its rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy for land losers.
“The R&R policy protects the interest of land owners. The policy talks about proper compensation and sharing of one per cent of the profits of the proposed companies for which land will be acquired among those displaced,” a senior government official told IANS.
The policy was formulated two months ago, he said.
Companies and the state government have been trying to acquire land but have faced protests from farmers. The farmers are also being supported by political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Recently, three land surveyors of Bhushan Steel and Power Company were roughed up by farmers at Potka block of East Singhbhum district in the state. The incident happened Sep 10.
The official said that land owners were protesting despite the fact that their interests had been protected under the policy.
“Land owners are not aware about the policy and NGOs and workers of political parties are spreading the wrong message among them,” he said.
“Instead of using force we have decided to launch an awareness campaign by organising seminars and informing landowners about the policy and how their interests would be protected under it,” he said.
The first seminar will take place Thursday in Ranchi which is likely to be attended by the state’s Chief Secretary, A.K. Basu.
The Jharkhand government has signed MoUs with more than 80 companies in the steel, mining and power sectors.
The major steel players are ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel, Jindal Steel and others.
To translate the MoUs into reality, the state needs to acquire more than 200,000 acres of land.
Most of the major steel companies who have signed MoUs have already been allotted iron ore mines and coal blocks. But they are unable to make much progress as they are unable to find suitable land for locating their plants and factories.