Govt looks to create land bank before investor meet

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26

Keen on inviting big investment, the state government has written to all Deputy Commissioners to identify land so that a land bank can be created ahead of an investor meet in June.

The Revenue Department has shot off letters to all DCs to identify land, especially in the border districts of Una, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra and Mandi, so that there is ample land to be offered to investors. As in these newly merged districts, lesser areas fall under the Forest Conservation Act, granting land lease to investors will be easier.

The government plans to hold the meet in Dharamsala and the Industry, Revenue, Tourism, Power and Forest Departments are working hard to simplify procedures before the meet. The biggest problem cited by investors is delayed sanctions, especially in case of Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act, and diversion of land covered under the Forest Conservation Act.

In Kangra, land has already been identified at Chanaur in Jaswan Pragpur and transferred in the name of Industry Department. Two chunks of land, including one at Vangarh, have been identified in Una district. Sources said two major chunks of land had been identified in the Nalagarh area of Solan, which attracts maximum investment because of its proximity to the border areas and the rail connectivity.

Efforts are also on by the Revenue department to make permissions under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act time-bound. Though, as per the existing norms, the sanction must be given within a month’s time, inordinate delays have been witnessed. Normally, files under Section 118 are cleared at the level of the Principal Secretary (Revenue) within 15 days time.

The BJP regime is eyeing investment of about Rs 85,000 crore in power, agriculture-horticulture, industry, ayurveda and health tourism. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will soon lead a delegation within India and abroad to woo the industry.