The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India, organized the 2nd 'District Collectors Conference', which took place on the 6th & 7th of September in New Delhi. Over 30 district collectors participated, making presentations on best practices to overcome challenges faced in the sectors of rural development, education, urban development, law & order, and disaster management. 
 
The Planning Commission is providing these presentations for the public to see examples of the good work being done by young IAS officers in the field, and to promote cross-learning and innovation.

1. Presentation on:-
a)Land acquisition and Rehabilitation in Airport project
b)Land acquisition for Gulbarga Power Project
c)Rehabilitation of 42 flood affected habitations under
Asare scheme.

2. Gulbarga District:
• 7 taluks, 25 lakh population plus
• 50% SC/ST/Minorities
• Out of 176 Taluks of Karnataka, the taluks of Gulbarga
feature in the last 20
• Both drought prone due to rain deficit in rain fed
areas and flood prone due to excessive rainfall in
upstream basin or cloud burst in the river course.
• Has infrastructure deficit—Roads, Railway Line,
Airport, Power.
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3. • 692 Acres of land acquired : 1.25 lakhs- 2.5 lakhs- 5.0
lakhs per Acre
• Also 26-26 Acres for rehabilitation for about 7 Acres
• From 1.5 km within to the main road side
• 107 families to 209 families
• Full infrastructure:- CC roads, Drains, Electricity, Water
Supply, School, Community Toilets, Anganawadi,
Playgrounds, Temples
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4. • Challenges:
* Appreciating the criticality of the project and the
potentiality (Cement Companies, Power Project,
Sunny days).
* Appreciating the sensitivities of the displaced people
and their requirements and livelihood.
* Comprehensive development of the lay out.
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22. b) Gulbarga Power Project
• Karnataka is a power deficit state, almost 19 % peak
• deficit is seen some times. A 1320 MW Super critical
• Thermal power Project allocated to Gulbarga, under case 2
scenario of CERC guidelines. Land is acquired by the
Govt., a private party invests. A part of the power
generated is for captive consumption at a
predetermined rate, the other can be traded on the power
• exchange.
•Site:- 1600 Acres of land spread over 3 villages of Gulbarga
• taluk- Honnakinanagi, Nadi sinnur, Firozabad
Advantages:
• Land was suitable, 9 kms from railhead, environmentally
• acceptable
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23. Challeneges:
• Water was about 80 kms away, apparently fertile land,
[even though there was a nearby river, not sufficient]
about 200+ farmers lands to be aquired.
• In a power project—land
+
•coal linkage/ Alternative Fuel Linkage.
• Farmers on a warpath- blocking of Highway, Courting
arrest, Suicide threats, etc.,
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24. Matters to be addressed
* The elected representatives- both Govt. and opposition
* The backing of the Govt.
* Certain decision facilitators, locals.
* Directly to deal with land losers and transparently. Certain
political or other pressure groups try to obstruct the matter
based on their priorities
* Package given- Compensation, Education Allowance, Waiving off
of registration Charges, etc.,
* The presence of limestone.
• Counter offer by farmers—maximum compensation per Acre
and job for dependents
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25. Compensation should involve—
• Replacement value of equivalent land, to an extent
equal if not more than the land acquired +
A substantial ex-gratia keeping in mind the emotional
links to the land, and the displacement caused.
• At a costing which within the overall project cost is
reasonable.
1] Final rate of Rs. 9 Lakhs/Acre. Rs. 144 crores disbursed in a
time bound manner and transparently
2] During Public Hearing as per directions of MOEF, the farmers
themselves supported the project
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26. • c) Asare Scheme
• Floods of 2009[Sep-Oct]
* Affected 52 villages of undivided Gulbarga District
* After bifurcation of Gulbarga into Gulbarga and
Yadgir districts, 41 villages remained in Gulbarga
District 36 partial + 5 full
* 2 Urban areas—Gulbarga City proper [57] and
Sedam town [191]
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27. • Acquisition of land by direct purchase or by compulsory
LAQ Govt. gave permission to purchase land @ 3times of
guidance value more or less not exceeding Rs. 3 lakhs per
Acre.A total of 234 acres acquired
• About 2627 houses got affected. Very important in selecting
the correct beneficiaries. They are usually the disprivileged
classes living at the edge of the rivers or in farm huts.
• The lands selected were at beside the main road or proper
connectivity provided, and as close to their core village as
possible, as their lives are entwined with that economy, and
potential for furthering their livelihood.
• The layouts were planned with help of the TPD, and only
about 20-24 houses per Acre was planned consciously. A
further about 25% land was sanctioned for playgrounds, further
expansion, etc.,
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28. • Roughly 50% of houses were constructed by KRIDL, a
GOK PSU. The other 50% had Infosys foundation doing
about 45% and ACC and Pejawar Math, doing 5%
• To ensure logistics and ease of construction, allocation
of villages took place in geographical proximity.
• The houses came up in layouts which had roads, drains,
water supply electricity.
• The costing ranged between 1.35 lakhs to 1.50 lakhs
depending on the soil condition.
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29. • Essentials for Rehabilitation:
* Proper identification of beneficiaries
* Suitable land
* Quick acquisition
* Complete infrastructure in place
* Construction of good quality in a timely manner.
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30. • Challenges:
* Pressure to include more beneficiaries
* Cost of land and suitability
* Dovetailing of funds- regular grant under ZP, NREGA,
RGGVY, NRDWS, Calamity fund collected and allocated
etc.,
* Delays in construction and quality of construction
What is to be done about existing houses?
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