State to modify law for bullet train

Mumbai: In a bid to remove hurdles to the bullet train project, the state government plans to provide ‘gairan land’ (grazing land) for the project without the consent of gram sabhas.

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), which is the implementing agency for the high-speed train corridor between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, had written a letter to the state government stating that as gram sabhas are not providing consent for gairan land to be taken over, the consent clause for acquiring such land should be removed.

A senior state government official said that the government is considering amending Section 22A of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (MLRC). A proposal in this regard will be sent to the governor for his approval within a week.

Officials said that at present gram sabhas are not providing consent for the acquisition of even a smaller patch of gairan land.

“Gairan land is public property and the bullet train is a project for the public. Despite this, the gram sabha is refusing to give its consent,” he added. The state government has already categorised the bullet train project under the vital projects.

Officials said that the gairan land falls under the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, 1996. Hence, an amendment in the MLRC merely needs the state governor’s approval and doesn’t need to be passed by the legislature.

Sources said that the result of the opposition to the project could be seen in land acquisition. As of now, the sale deed has been inked in only three to four villages for the land acquisition.

The bullet train is the pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shiv Sena, which a BJP ally at the Centre as well as in the state, has been opposing the project.