Land to outsiders issue: HP govt throws figures at Oppn

He said these figures are almost double those for the BJP government since it assumed power in 2008. The minister questioned the opposition’s aggressive stand on the issue when it had exceeded all limits while at the helm. “Out of the total 1,297 permissions given by the BJP government,only 15 are given for construction of apartments,whereas during the Congress regime,27 permissions were given for construction of apartments,” Gulab Singh Thakur said.

During the last session of the Assembly,the Congress leaders had raised a noise over the grant of Essentiality Certificates to promoters of private housing projects under the Apartment Act,which has put the government on the back foot. Now,the minister appears to have chosen to turn the tables on Congress.

The minister said the chief minister had already announced to set up a House Committee to find out the legality of the Essential Certificates and irregularities,if any. This will be followed by a judicial inquiry. Drawing a parallel,Thakur said the government had given 28 permissions for agriculture/horticulture/kitchen gardening projects,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.

But the Congress,on the other hand,gave permissions to 28 persons for undertaking agriculture/horticulture/kitchen gardening,586 for house construction,18 for commercial purposes,1242 for industries,24 for educational institutions,59 for religious purposes,50 for hotels,31 for hydel projects and three for IT/BT activities.