GUWAHATI, Jan 21 � The Assam Government is drafting a new Land Acquisition Bill and it will not implement the Central Act of 2013 that was recently amended by the Union Government through an ordinance, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party event, Gogoi said, �We are preparing a new Land Acquisition Bill. I had said it earlier also and I am reiterating that we are not going to implement the Act amended recently by the Central Government.�
He was, however, non-committal when asked if the new State law would be introduced in the State Assembly during the forthcoming Budget Session in March.
�I do not know if we will be ready with the Bill by then or not. But we�ll definitely introduce it in Assam,� he added.
Gogoi had earlier come out strongly against the Centre's decision to amend the Land Acquisition Act through an ordinance.
He stated that the amendment had diluted the interests of farmers and poor peasants and added that the Assam Government would not implement it.
Gogoi said his government wants investments and new industries in Assam and creation of employment opportunities for unemployed youth.
�However, we are not willing to sacrifice the interests of farmers,� said the Chief Minister.
