Patna, 13 January (UNI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Tuesday said that ensuring transparency, sensitivity, and social justice in the process of land acquisition is the top priority of the state government.
Mr Sinha said in a statement issued today that assigning the responsibility of social impact assessment in Magadh division to BIARD, Gaya, will enable a more scientific and impartial assessment of the socio-economic situation of the affected families and local communities. He said this will make decisions related to land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement more just, timely, and public-interest-based.
The Revenue and Land Reforms Department has taken a significant decision under the Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Under this, the work of social impact assessment in land acquisition-related cases for any project in the districts under Magadh division will now be done by Bihar Administrative Reform and Training Institute (BIARD), Gaya.
In this regard, a notification has been issued by the department, which has been approved by the state governor. According to the notification, this arrangement has been made under the provisions of Section-4 of the Act, to ensure a proper assessment of the social, economic, and environmental impacts on the affected families and local communities in the process of land acquisition.
The notification issued by Principal Secretary of Revenue and Land Reforms Department, C K Anil, states that earlier, L N Mishra Institute of Economic Development and Social Change, A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Chandragupt Institute of Management, and Development Management Institute were notified as Social Impact Assessment units. Now, BIARD, Gaya, has also been included in this list for Magadh division in public interest.
It is worth noting that in July 2025, a detailed review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Land Reforms Department, with all notified SIA units. In this meeting, it was agreed to complete the work of social impact assessment in a standardized manner within a fixed time, determine the SIA fee based on land area, allocate agencies district-wise, and fix a time limit for the SIA report. It was also decided that the District Magistrate would directly issue a work order to the allocated SIA agency, so that there is no unnecessary delay in the process of land acquisition. The department has clarified that with the inclusion of BIARD, Gaya, the previously decided SIA agency selection roster will be considered modified to the necessary extent and will come into effect from the date of issue of this order. The government's decision will increase transparency in the process of land acquisition, enable a better assessment of the problems and expectations of the affected families, and make decisions related to rehabilitation and resettlement more sensitive, just, and practical.