Cabinet: Govt to frame policy on returning unused land

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 5

To maintain transparency and consistency in denotifying acquired land and regulate the procedure of such denotification, the state government has decided to frame a policy for return of unutilised land under Section 101-A of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Haryana Amendment) Act, 2017.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here on Wednesday.

The policy aimed at prescribing procedure for denotifying land, acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, becoming unviable or non-essential on such terms as might be decided by the state government.

If the acquiring department was of the opinion that land acquired under the 1894 Act was unviable or non-essential for the public purpose for which it has been acquired and that the land should be denotified from acquisition, it would inform the government about its opinion and seek approval of the government before proceeding further in accordance with the provisions.

The district-level sub-committee constituted would, while examining the opinion of the acquiring department, consider issues like extent of payment of compensation, if any, to the landowners on account of damage, if any, sustained by them due to acquisition of land and extent of compensation by providing alternative land along with payment of damages, if any, in case of part utilisation of acquired land or in case of any encumbrances created on or against the acquired land or part thereof.

The district-level sub-committee, after examining the matter, would give its recommendations and reasons as to whether the opinion of the acquiring department referred to it for consideration deserved to be accepted or not. The sub-committee would submit a report to the Administrative Secretary of the acquiring department who would, after taking approval of the government, place the matter before the ministerial sub-committee.

A report of the ministerial sub-committee would be put up for consideration and decision by the Cabinet at the earliest. The Cabinet could, upon consideration of the report of the ministerial sub-committee, allow denotification of the acquired land.

Govt job for martyrs’ kin and other decisions

• Haryana to constitute Rohnat Freedom Trust for Rohnat village in Bhiwani to provide total freedom to all residents of Rohnat, especially descendants of celebrated freedom fighters
• Government job approved for dependants of martyrs Dilbag Singh, Bijender Kumar and  Dharampal, sepoys in the Army, by giving relaxation
• Haryana Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993, to provide assistance in form of compensation to accident victims involving vehicles not insured and make owner and driver of such vehicles to face criminal proceedings
• Cadre change policy approved for district cadre teachers working on regular basis in Elementary Education Department
• Haryana Housing Board to raise Rs 110-crore loan from Punjab National Bank, Chandigarh, for construction of flats for defence personnel in Sector 31, Panchkula