Talking to media here on the sidelines of the International Summit on Micro-finance and Inclusive Development, the Environment Minister said, the Centre would oppose forcible land acquisition by the state Governments. Referring to the Posco Project proposed in Odisha, he said the state Government should adopt democratic practices to acquire land for the project.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerji said that she is not opposed to the Land Acquisition Bill of the Centre, but asserted that lands of the farmers should not be acquired forcefully. Talking to reporters , She said, in the recent meeting with the industrialists in Kolkata, the issue was discussed in great detail. Ms Banerji said, if there is any urgency for acquiring the land, the concerned party should enter into negotiations with the farmers to give them the reasonable price. She also stressed that forest land should remain with the tribals for its proper development. Meanwhile, Ms Banerji met the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh this evening and is understood to have sought an urgent central assistance for the State.