After concerns over unrestricted land sales to outsiders, the Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved a new draft law for land purchases in the state.
The new draft law bans people outside the state from buying agricultural and horticultural land in 11 of the state’s 13 districts.
As per the BJP-led government, the move aims to “protect the state’s original identity.”
Here are the highlights of the proposed land law.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the Cabinet’s decision on X.
Dhami said, “Our government is the protector of the state’s culture and original identity. Fully respecting the long-standing demand of the people of the state and their sentiments, today the Cabinet has approved a strict land law. This historic step will protect the resources of the state, cultural heritage and the rights of the citizens. It will also play an important role in maintaining the original identity of the state.”
“Our government is fully committed to protecting the interests of the people and we will never let their trust get broken. This decision makes it clear that we will make every possible effort to protect our state and culture. Certainly, this law will also prove to help maintain the original form of the state,” the chief minister added.
To craft the law, the government has conducted assessments at various levels. It formed a high-level committee, chaired by former Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, to review the current law and draft recommendations based on public consultations.
The revised land law will be tabled in the ongoing assembly budget session, which will conclude on February 24.
If passed, the bill will nullify changes made to the Uttarakhand (Uttar Pradesh) Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 in 2017 by the government led by Trivendra Singh Rawat.
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While the key details of the new land law are yet to be clearly known, according to News18, it is learnt that under the new law, outsiders – except those in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar – will no longer be allowed to purchase agricultural or horticultural land.
District magistrates will also lose their authority to grant permission for such land transactions.
The new draft law says land consolidation and settlement will take place in the hills.
A new portal will be created to track land purchases in the state, and all district magistrates will have to regularly report all land purchases to the Revenue Council and the government.
When purchasing land, people from outside the state will mandatorily require an affidavit.
According to the draft law, land use will be restricted to designated purposes within municipal boundaries. If the land is used contrary to the rules, it will be vested in the government.
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In a press conference in September of last year, CM Dhami first announced his intention to implement a strict land law in the state and stated that claims of massive violations of the land purchase rules were being looked into.
Concerns that unrestricted land sales to outsiders were depleting Uttarakhand’s already scarce amount of agricultural land have led to a growing call for stronger land rules over time.
The first-ever restrictions on land purchases in hilly regions by non-Uttarakhand residents was imposed in 2003 by then-Congress Chief Minister ND Tiwari, capping the acquisition at 500 square metres. This limit was lowered to 250 square metres under the BJP-led BC Khanduri government.
In 2017, then-BJP CM Trivendra Singh Rawat completely lifted this restriction, increasing the land purchase limits from 12.5 acres to 30 acres for projects related to tourism, energy, industry, agriculture, and horticulture. In some cases, exemptions permitted purchases exceeding 30 acres.
Public pressure intensified as the amendment led to fears of rapid land acquisition by non-residents.
Now, the latest move of introducing the caps again has been welcomed by Ajendra Ajay, outgoing chairman of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, who was also a member of the government-appointed committee that reviewed land laws. He said that the Cabinet “respected public sentiments.”
The new land law is significant for the environmentally sensitive conditions on the southern slope of the Himalayas. The state’s northern region also houses some of the highest peaks in the world.
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Non-agriculturists are not allowed to freely buy agricultural land in Himachal.
However, land can be purchased for particular uses, like horticulture or tourism, with government approval.
In December last year, the state assembly passed the amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings Act to allow religious, charitable and spiritual organisations to transfer land for religious, spiritual or charitable purposes, subject to the maximum limit of thirty acres.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
Dreaming of a farmhouse in Uttarakhand? Why that might not be possible if you are an outsider
