Shimla Parliamentarian Virender Kashyap has requested Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to instruct army authorities to hand over 72.31.62 hectare non utilized land to native villagers of Village Chhavani-Shamsherpur and Majholi Village in Nahan Tehsil of Sirmour District for proper utilization for agriculture, residential and other productive purposes.
BJP leader informed the Union Defence Minister that state Govt had transferred total 185.70.11 hectare land in favour of Indian Army in Chhavani-Shamsherpur and Majholi Villages in Nahan of Sirmour District in the year 1979. He apprised the Union Minister that Army has 113.38.17 hectare of land in possession and 69.13.26 hectare of land in Village Majholi has not been occupied by the army so far even after 37 years and requested that land in possession of civilians (kabijans) and vacant land should be immediately vested with local community for its proper and optimum use.
Shimla Parliamentarian also demanded to abolish colonial laws that he believes that people living in the cantonment areas facing problems and hampering the development of the area. He demanded abolition of procedural formalities for smaller buildings upto 1000 square feet in cantonment areas by changing building byelaws and also demanded the lifting of ban on building construction by land owners in some cantonment areas which was imposed during second world war and also demanded the amendment in Cantonments Act 2006 in the larger interest of civilian population of the area.
Virender Kashyap also demanded the simplification of procedure for free hold land in Cantonment areas by making suitable amendments in 1995 policy. He demanded that provision of mandatory sanction of station headquarter for conversion of free hold land in civil areas should be scrapped immediately and rates applicable in adjoining Nagar Palika and Municipal Committee should be made applicable for cantonment areas also. He demanded that only one circle rate applicable at the time of initial sanction should be made applicable for conversion of free hold land. He also demanded the simplification of procedure for renewal of lease for buildings and bunglows and also requested for clear and transparent policy for renewal of lease in cantonment areas.
