Lok Sabha Question No. 1220 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Seizing of Agricultural Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1220

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## SEIZING OF AGRICULTURAL LAND

1220. SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that trees and agricultural crops are increasingly being uprooted to create land for developmental activities, destroying the livelihoods of famers; (b) if  so, the details thereof and the steps taken to ensure that development does not come atthe cost of farmers; (c) whether it is a fact that Government authorities often cut down the trees and crops withoutprior intimation to the farmers who are not even able to transplant them; (d) if so, the details thereof, along with the measures taken to curb this and action taken against the wrongdoers; (e) whether any special steps have been taken to ensure that compensation for land seized for developmental activities is commensurate with current rates; and

- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a)  to (f): As per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, land comes under the purview of State Governments, and therefore, it is for the State governments to take suitable  steps  to  check  diversion  of  arable  land  for  non-agricultural  purposes.  However,

Government of India supplements the efforts of States, through appropriate policy measures and  budgetary  support.  Under  the  National  Policy  for  Farmers-2007  (NPF-2007),  State Governments have been advised to earmark lands with low biological potential  such  as uncultivable land, land affected by salinity, acidity, etc., for non-agricultural developmental activities,  including  industrial  and  construction  activities.  The  National  Rehabilitation  and Resettlement  Policy-2007  (NRRP2007)  has  also  recommended  that  as  far  as  possible, projects may be set up on waste land, degraded land or un-irrigated land. Acquisition of irrigated,  multi-cropped  agricultural  land  for  non-agricultural  uses  may  be  kept  to  the minimum or avoided to the extent possible.

Protection and management of trees is primarily the responsibility of State/ Union Territory.  There  are  strong  legal  frame  works  for  protection  and  management  of  tree resources of the country which include the National Forest Policy,1988, Indian Forest Act, 1927,  Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980,  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972  and  State  Forest Acts/State Specific Tree Preservation Acts and Rules etc. The State /UT Government take appropriate actions to protect forests and regulate felling of trees in accordance with the provisions made under these Acts/ Rules. The permission for tree cutting is accorded by the respective  State  Governments/  Union  Territory  Administrations  under  the  provisions  of various Acts, Rules, Guidelines and the directions of Hon'ble Courts.

Further, the compensation of land is decided as per the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 which is 2 to 4 times of the determined market value of the land.

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