The State Government is mulling to bring in necessary stringent rule under the Section-118 of Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act 1972 so as to make it more effective in protecting the interests of the State and its people. Thakur Gulab Singh, Revenue Minister said that the State Government has constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by the Revenue Minister with IPH Minister, Industries Minister, Health Minister, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister and Transport Ministers as its Members.
Thakur Gulab Singh said that the first meeting of Sub Committee will be held on 18th July, 2011. He said that this Sub Committee will give its recommendations to the Cabinet with regard to carrying amendments in the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Rules, 1975. Revenue Minister said that the Cabinet Sub Committee Constituted by the State Government will also ensure that some relief be provided to those non-agriculturist Himachalis who are residing in the State for many generations. He said that it would also be ensured that farmers were not deprived of their valuable agricultural land.
Revenue Minister said that the State Government is committed to ensure that the valuable land of the State does not go to the wrong hands and farmers were not deprived of their ancestral asset. He said that for this, the Government has appointed one man commission under retired judge of Himachal Pradesh High Court Shimla to enquire into the issues relating to benami land transactions in the State since 2003. He said that the commission had been appointed under sub section (1) of section 3, of Commission of Inquiry Act 1952. He said that the Commission would submit its report within a period of six months.
Thakur Gulab Singh said that Commission will also enquire into the issues relating to benami land transaction in violation of section 118 of H .P. Tenancy and Land Reforms Act 1972 since 2003 which has resulted in transfer of agricultural land to non agriculturists. He said the State Government was adopting all required modalities to grant permission under the Section 118. He said that out of the total 1297 permissions given during the tenure of the present Government, 28 permissions had been given for agriculture/horticulture/kitchen gardening, 428 for house construction, 11 for commercial purposes, 601 for industries, 85 for educational institutions, 47 for religious purposes, 50 for hotels and 32 for hydel projects.
