Pune: The civic body is seeking an income tax waiver on land acquisition compensation, with officials claiming that the relief will help speed up land procurement for civic infrastructure projects, such as the Katraj-Kondhwa Road.Omprakash Divate, additional commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), told TOI, “The willingness of citizens to hand over land may increase if such waivers are granted. It would also speed up projects delayed due to the availability of land.”PMC officials said several major projects, including the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR), flyovers and key road works, are set to move ahead. The Katraj-Kondhwa Road project, stalled due to pending land acquisition, is among them.Land acquisition for several projects is in its final stage. While PMC offers Transferable Development Rights (TDR) or Floor Space Index (FSI), many landowners prefer monetary compensation.“Projects get delayed because cash compensation is paid to landowners after income tax deductions, reducing the amount they actually receive. This acts as a major deterrent for many landowners,” said a senior PMC official.Compensation is provided under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013.When land is acquired for public infrastructure projects, the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, mandates a fair and transparent process, entitling landowners to comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation benefits rather than merely the basic market value of their land.These provisions apply whenever govt acquires land for public utility projects that it owns, manages or operates, either directly or through public sector undertakings.Accordingly, PMC cannot take possession of the land immediately after announcing an award, as it is legally required to deposit or disburse the full compensation and applicable benefits beforehand.
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