GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Wednesday introduced an amendment bill in the Assembly to exempt acquisition of land for specified purposes from certain provisions of the existing principal Act.

‘The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2026’ was introduced in the House by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika, on behalf of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta.

The bill seeks to amend section 10A of the existing Act and exempt acquisition of land for specified purposes from application of chapter II and III of the principal Act, which broadly deals with social impact assessment and safeguarding land meant for agricultural purposes.

Land required for projects related to national security or defence, rural infrastructure projects including electrification, health and education, and affordable housing and housing for the poor has sought to be exempted.

Moreover, land for industrial area or estate set up by the state government and its undertakings, industrial corridors set up by the state government and its undertakings, and infrastructure projects including under PPP mode where ownership of land vests with the state and planned urban development projects in and around airports will also be exempted.

The state government will ensure that the bare minimum land required for the projects will be notified for exemption from the provisions of the principal Act, as per the proposed amendment bill. (Source: PTI)