PlanCom advice to new govt: Tweak land acquisition law.

In order to make the rules more acquisition-friendly, the Planning Commission is likely to recommend that the new government make certain changes to the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA's) land acquisition and rehabilitation law. The Commission has held preliminary discussions on this and the changes are to be suggested as part of a concise internal report to be presented to the government taking office this month.

'We intend to present to the (new) government our views on the economy and the performance so far under the 12th Plan. It will be a short, thematic report and not a page-by-page review. It will also summarise the wisdom of the existing Planning Commission members for the next government,' said a senior panel official asking not to be named. He said the report would raise critical issues that needed to be addressed in sectors like infrastructure and was also likely to push yet again for reduction of subsidies - itself not a new argument from the Commission.

BS