The much-awaited Land Acquisition and Resettlement Bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Monday and will be tabled in the Parliament this week.

The bill seeks to address the shortcomings of the current land acquisition act made in 1984 in the light of recent protests against land acquisition.

Among the major initiatives, the bill seeks to ensure appropriate compensation for land losers and labourers dependent on the land proposed to be acquired for living.

The draft bill talks about livelihood compensation for displaced famers.

The draft suggests that under no circumstances should multi-cropped, irrigated land be acquired.

Also government will not be acquiring land for private companies for private purpose.

The bill was cleared in the cabinet after it was decided that the states will be free to have their own laws on land acquisition.

The bill comes at a time when farmers across many states had differences with the government over this contentious issue.