Cabinet okays new draft of Land Bill

The cabinet committee has approved the new draft of Land Acquisition Bill in the wake of widespread protests by farmers over the irregularities in the acquisition of their lands. Union Minister of Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh said this while briefing the mediapersons in New Delhi on Monday. He said the Bill would be tabled in the ongoing session of Parliament. He mentioned that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would convene a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) in October, which would be attended by Chief Ministers of all the states. The NDC would debate on the measures necessary for a strong legislation.