KATHMANDU, April 11: The government has fast-tracked the bill to amend and integrate the land acquisition law.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has prioritized legal and policy reforms, accelerating the bill to amend and integrate the land acquisition law after 47 years.
Upon assuming responsibility for the ministry, Home Minister Lekhak presented the bill to amend and revise the Nepal Police, Armed Police, and Citizenship Act to the federal parliament. He also moved forward with the bill to amend and integrate the land acquisition law, originally enacted in 1977, to make it relevant to current times.
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The Ministry of Home Affairs has made the bill public and invited suggestions for further review.
Bharatmani Rijal, Chief Secretary of the Legal Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs, stated, "We have sent the bill to all ministries, provincial governments, and district administration offices to collect suggestions, and we have also posted the bill on the Ministry of Home Affairs' website." He added, "After collecting suggestions, we will present the bill to the federal parliament."
Rijal explained that the new law aims to facilitate land acquisition and modernize the process."The new law facilitates land acquisition at the federal, provincial, and local levels. Provinces and local levels can also acquire private land by compensating the landowner," he said.
The bill also aligns land acquisition provisions with the Environment Protection Act and ensures the land acquisition process follows a federal structure.
"The law addresses issues such as the right to land acquisition, pre-feasibility studies, social impact assessments, the land acquisition process, initial procedures, and land acquisition through negotiation," Rizal explained. "The proposal also includes guidelines for land acquisition, compensation, and rehabilitation or resettlement programs."
