No question of scrapping section 118, says Himachal CM
SECTION 118 OF THE HP LAND REVENUE ACT, PROHIBITS NONHIMACHALIS TO BUY LAND IN THE STATE
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur has stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was never of the opinion to scrap Section 118 of the HP Land Revenue Act, which prohibits non-Himachalis to buy land in the state.
“We will simplify the procedure. So far, it is very complex,” the CM said on Sunday as he addressed media at party’s state headquarters ‘Deepkamal’ to hail BJP’s performance in the north east.
On Congress adopting resolution on Saturday in its Mandi meeting that it will protest scrapping of Section 118, Jai Ram claimed that it was Congress who had amended the section earlier. “Not once, but the Congress amended the section six times. We are, however, not scrapping it,” he said.
Taking a dig at the Congress, the CM termed the Mandi meet as assembly of only a few people. “Congress is battling infighting and their resolutions have no meaning. Safeguarding state’s interest is priority of the BJP government,” he added.
Congress legislature party leader Mukesh Agnihotri had on Saturday claimed that the BJP was planning to scrap section 118 to benefit non-Himachalis. He had also threatened to launch a protest if the government decided to scrap the section.
Sources in the government said the state government is mulling changes in the procedure to get private land for industrial purpose to simplify it. They added that in order to improve the current ranking of 17 under ease of doing business, the state has been contemplating ease procedure and obtaining permission under section 118 is one of the biggest hurdles.
“Once an industrial project is approved by the state-level single window clearance and monitoring committee, the concerned industry will be issued approval of the state government under the section 118 of HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act to purchase private land, which takes time,” sources claimed.
The CM, meanwhile, hailed the central leadership for “outstanding” electoral performance in north eastern states, including Tripura.