Gross Cropped Land Expanded From 201.3 Million Hectares In 2013 To 217.8 Million Hectares In 2024
New Delhi: The Union Government on Tuesday, December 16, claimed that the gross cropped land area in the country has expanded significantly, rising from 201.3 million hectares in 2013-14 to 217.8 million hectares in 2023-24, as per the latest report on ‘Land Use Statistics—at a Glance 2023-24′.
Responding to a question seeking information about the loss of agricultural land due to land acquisition for infrastructure and industrial projects across the various States of the country during the last five years, the ministry of agriculture and farmer’s welfare stated that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not centrally maintain data on agricultural land acquired for various purposes.
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Stating that the land and agriculture are the state subjects, the ministry pointed out that both Central and State Governments undertake land acquisition for industrial projects and infrastructure development, as per Entry No. 18 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
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Though the land can be acquired for public purposes through the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, Section 10 of the Act explicitly restricts the acquisition of multi-crop irrigated land, unless in exceptional cases where no alternative land is available.
