12.9 C
London
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
HomeNewsIndia NewsIndia's cabinet clears order to extend land reforms

India’s cabinet clears order to extend land reforms

Date:

Related stories

All 12 outlets of McDonald’s in Sri Lanka shut over poor hygiene

McDonald’s stores across Sri Lanka shut Sunday after the...

Indian woman dies in car accident in US

A 24-year-old Indian professional died in a car accident...

Trader fined for selling illegal tobacco

An Asian-origin trader in Hillingdon was recently fined more...

Indra Nooyi’s advice to Indian students in US: ‘Be watchful’

AMID a string of tragic and concerning incidents involving...

Bhutanese artists perform Hindi songs during Modi’s visit

India and Bhutan share a unique and exemplary bilateral...

INDIA'S cabinet cleared a new ordinance on land purchases on Tuesday (March 31), government officials said, extending measures to make transactions easier that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been unable to get onto the statute book.

The decree, which needs the president's signature to take effect, represents a temporary workaround after opposition parties blocked legislation to make the changes permanent in parliament's upper house.

Easing the way for investors to buy land for industrial projects in India has been a key focus of the Modi government's reform efforts during its first year.

Billions of dollars of investment in industrial projects are tied up due to conflicts between farmers and companies trying to buy land, government backers say, hampering economic growth that could lift millions out of poverty.

The new ordinance would renew an executive order issued by Modi in December that will lapse on April 5, as well as include some amendments added when the land bill was passed by India's lower house of parliament this month.

In recent weeks, opposition parties have united and taken to the streets against the changes, which eased requirements for investors to seek consent from affected landowners, among other measures.

Opposition leaders say the reforms are anti-farmer and would rob millions of their livelihoods. The Congress party, ousted by Modi last May, plans a major farmers' rally on April 19 to protest against the land reforms.

The standoff comes amid growing discontent in northern India's farm belt, where unseasonal rains have damaged winter crops. Farmers have criticised Modi's government for not doing more to help.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

four × three =