Uttaranchal clamps down on agricultural land sale

R.S. Toliya, Chief Secretary, Uttaranchal, said the Cabinet decided to allow sale of agriculture land only to people who are registered in the revenue records as agriculturist or their family members. Any non-agriculturist would not be allowed to purchase agriculture land unless given permission by the state government. The District Magistrates would entertain such applications and the Commissioner would finally give permission for such purchases. Those interested in owning industries in the state have been exempted from the ban.

The Cabinet also decided to do away with the system of using ‘‘power of attorneys’’ in the sale and purchase of agriculture land. A new legislation in this regard would be brought in the state legislature soon. Toliya said that a need was felt to check the unbridled purchase of land by people interested in real estate business at the cost of poor hill farmers.