Odisha government withdraws 3 crucial Bills days after tabling them in Assembly

With its move to amend the land acquisition law, a central legislation, the Odisha government has decided to ease the land acquisition process for industrial and infrastructure projects. Through the amendment, it has decided to do away with the mandatory provision of social impact assessment (SIA) study before land acquisition citing that the process “causes delay in acquisition of land.”

The Odisha government has also decided to insert a new provision so that consent for land acquisition for various infrastructure and industrial projects will not be required in non-scheduled areas. Such consent is mandatory for scheduled (tribal dominated) areas.

Several BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka have amended the central legislation for land acquisition and received the assent of the President.

The Backward Classes Amendment Bill is meant to include 22 backward castes/communities in the state list of socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC), a move with significant political implications. The state Cabinet had already approved the proposal on January 21. The decision will help people belonging to 22 castes avail of all social welfare measures and benefits extended by the Odisha government to backward classes.

Similarly, the Apartment Ownership Bill makes it mandatory for promoters and allottees of a real estate project to form an association of allottees that will manage the apartment property, including the common areas.