JS passes land acquisition bill

The Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project (Land Acquisition) Bill-2011 was passed in parliament on Monday with provision of compensation for those whose land would be acquired for implementing the project.

Earlier, land minister Rezaul Karim Hira placed the bill for the 26-kilometre elevated expressway in parliament on June 21.

According to the new law, none can claim compensation if any installations are established or types of land changed hampering public interest.

In such cases, if any person or organisation claims compensation, it would be rejected by the deputy commissioner, the act said.

The bill also kept provision of filing appeal with the deputy commissioner by the aggrieved person within seven days after denial of the claim. Provision has also been made in the bill to give a reviewed order within five working days after filing of any appeal.

It said if the appeal was rejected, the petitioner will have to shift his or her establishments at his or her own cost and responsibility.

If the petitioner does not shift the installations, the deputy commissioner can hold an open auction and deposit to the government exchequer the money from the sale of the installations, said the act.

The bill also kept the provision for giving flats or land plots or money as compensation as per the earlier ordinance to the effect.

The government owns 80 per cent of the land needed for the 26-kilometre expressway while it has to acquire 20 per cent more belonging to the citizens.

The expressway is designed to link Shahjalal International Airport with Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, says the bill.

The bill proposes payment of due compensation to the landowners so that no untoward incidents could occur at the time of land acquisition.

It states that the government had taken the project to cut down the capital city's traffic congestion.

The expressway would be built under public-private partnership at a cost of Tk 8,703 crore.

Source : New Age

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