New Delhi: The Uttarakhand Cabinet Wednesday approved a draft law banning non-residents from buying agricultural and horticultural land in 11 of the state’s 13 districts, a move aimed at preventing large-scale land acquisition by outsiders and preserving local ownership.
The proposed legislation, known as the ‘Bhoo Kanoon (Land Law Amendment Bill), will be tabled in the ongoing Budget Session of the Assembly, ThePrint has learnt.
The new law will have stringent provisions about the purchase and sale of agricultural/horticulture and residential land by non-residents in 11 hill districts.
According to sources in the government, under the new land law, people from outside the state will not be able to buy horticultural and agricultural land in the state capital, Dehradun, as well as in Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Almora and Bageshwar districts.
“All the provisions implemented in 2018 by the government of former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat have been abolished in the new law. A total ban has been placed on purchase of land by outsiders,” said a source.
“Except Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, in 11 other districts of Uttarakhand, persons from outside the state will not be able to purchase horticulture and agriculture land,” the source added.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said his government, being the guardian of the culture of the state, was committed to protecting the rights of the citizens.
“Respecting the long-standing demands and sentiments of the people of the state, today the Cabinet has approved strict land laws. This historic step will protect the resources, cultural heritage, and rights of the citizens of the state, and will play a significant role in maintaining the original identity of the province,” Dhami said.
He added that this law will also help in preserving the original form of the province.
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Earlier rules
A senior official told ThePrint that previously anyone from the country could purchase around 12.5 acres of agricultural land across Uttarakhand, with a provision for an increase in special cases.
Special permission was required for industrial and other commercial purposes.
There were no restrictions on residential land purchases in all areas of the state and no cap on land size.
The amended law imposes a blanket ban on the purchase of agricultural land in 11 districts. It has also capped the size of land for residential purposes at 250 square metres per family.
“Anyone wishing to buy residential land can do so but there is a cap of 250 sq metres per family. A family has been defined under the UPZALR (UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms) Act,” said a senior official.
However, the purchase of agriculture/horticulture land will be allowed in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
Under the new land law, district magistrates will no longer have the authority to grant permission for land purchases.
“The government is coming up with a portal for land purchases in the state as the entire process will go totally digital. The portal will track even a single inch of land purchased by people from outside the state,” said the official.
Apart from this, people from outside the state will have to file an affidavit citing reasons before purchasing land in the state.
“The land use will be strictly restricted to designated purposes within municipal boundaries. If the land is used contrary to the rules, it will be vested in the government,” said another official.
The government is also ensuring that the stricter land laws do not become a deterrent for industrialists and new investors.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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This law is clearly a reaction to the significant demographic change witnessed in the hilly state due to large scale immigration from Uttar Pradesh. Under Yogi Adityanath’s no-nonsense hardline policies, millions of Muslims are opting to shift base to Uttarakhand. This has raised serious concerns amongst the native population. People are alarmed at the drastic change in demography seen across towns and villages.
Uttarakhand has seen a staggering increase in the population of Muslims. Smaller towns and certain villages are witnessing an alarming demographic shift. It seems the criminal elements from UP, under pressure from Yogi’s law enforcement agencies, are finding refuge in Uttarakhand. This is a ticking time bomb.
Uttarakhand is Devbhumi for Hindus. It’s just a matter of time before communal riots like the one at Haldwani become a regular occurrence. The Uttarakhand government must focus on identifying the new settlers/immigrants and take action to prevent them from purchasing land and acquiring other property in the state.