India infrastructure report 2009

The acquisition and use of land is emerging as the single largest constraint to India's infrastructure building endeavour, Land acquisition is a very sensitive issue since it affects the livelihood of displaced households and those who have difficulty in transitioning from traditional skill sets. It also adversely impacts the sociocultural canvas of those affected. Attempts by the government to use eminent domain powers to acquire land are increasingly facing resistance from displaced people all over the country Legal, policy-related, and implementation deficiencies lie at the heart of such ongoing contestations. In an effort to walk the balance between the interests of the displaced, and the acquisition of land for infrastructure, policymakers are increasingly turning their attention to compensation, resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R), and other land-related issues to provide potential resolutions. Using land as a means of financing infrastructure and overcoming land constraints are other challenges being explored..