RDF gone, panchayat department looks for new revenue sources

CHANDIGARH: With the state government deciding to use rural development fund (RDF) for farmers’ debt waiver, the rural development and panchayats department has found a large number of properties — either redundant or encroached — worth crores of rupees as a way to raise money.

RDF has been a major source for the government to fund development in villages.

Rural development and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa told HT that financial commissioner, revenue, had allotted these properties to the department in the mid-1950s but were never brought to use.

“We are in process of reclaiming these properties, which by an estimate have a total worth not less than ₹700 crore,” said Bajwa.

In October, the state council of ministers had decided to use rural development fund charged on sale of agriculture produce (approximately ₹36,000 crore per annum) to fulfil its debtwaiver promise for 8.75 lakh farmers.

To do so, the government amended the Rural Development Act, 1987, and the Agriculture Produce Markets Act, 1961.

In June, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had announced total waiver of crop loans up to ₹2 lakh of small and marginal farmers, and a flat ₹2 lakh relief for all marginal farmers, irrespective of the loan amount.

The minister added that AL Fletcher, who was posted as financial commissioner, revenue, from 1954 to 1958 handed over these properties to rural development department, when Partap Singh Kairon was the chief minister.

“Our officers were lax in reclaiming these properties, due to which the majority of the properties are still to be transferred to our department. Most properties are on prime locations and have commercial use,” the minister added.

“Block samitis will be given the charge of property falling in their jurisdiction,” he said. There are 144 block samitis in the state.

He refused to comment when questioned on whether the diversion of the RDF for farm debt waiver had let to the loss of funds for the panchayats department.

A department officer said these properties were in every town and city of the state, were never put to use and would now be reclaimed. The department plans to put these properties on rent or dispose off, whatever way is deemed practical, to earn revenue, he added.

HOUSES COME UP ON DEPARTMENT LAND Speaking on these properties, Bajwa quoted one such case. He said in Bahadur Ke village, on the Jalandhar-ludhiana bypass, the department has 36 acres of prime land, of which 12 acres had now been encroached upon and palatial houses built.

He added each acre was worth ₹3 crore and claimed that an Akali MLA was behind the encroachment.

“I have asked my department to reclaim the vacant 24 acres and start proceedings against those who have built properties illegally,” said the minister.