The new Land Acquisition Bill will be placed in the Parliament next week. The Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh disclosed this after meeting the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Saturday evening.

Mr. Ramesh said that the Bill will be placed in the Parliament after Cabinet approval which is scheduled to be held early next week.

The Union Rural Development Minister discussed with the West Bengal Chief Minister the draft Bill and sought her support for its passage in the Parliament. Later, talking to newsmen, Miss Banerjee said that the Relief and Rehabilitation package which has been incorporated in the draft Bill is positive.

She welcomed the Center’s initiatives to change the old land acquisition Bill and also urged to keep the State Government free to have its own laws on land issue.