Himachal bans land sale in Baddi's industrial belt

To avoid further haphazard construction in Himachal Pradesh's fastest-growing industrial belt, a ban has been imposed on buying land until a master plan is in place.

Himachal government officials say the decision (late Monday) has been taken to ensure the planned development of the Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh industrial towns in Solan, some 120 km from here.

Since the central excise package was announced almost four years ago, Baddi and Barotiwala has witnessed the fastest industrial growth in northern India, leading to haphazard construction and other complications.

"The Himachal revenue department has imposed a ban on the sale, lease, mortgage, exchange and gift of land in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt," a spokesman of the state government said here on Tuesday.

"The ban has been imposed to ensure that planned development takes place in the area. Even though a draft development plan had been imposed by the state government, when the excise package was announced by the Centre in early 2003, it was not followed," said Solan District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar.

"A lot of deviations took place. Industrial units came up even in green belts, residential areas, and farmland, among others," he added. The ban will remain until a master plan for planned growth is ready soon, say officials.

But many say the ban has come almost four years late, because a lot of damage has already taken place. But the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) will be allowed to carry on with its proposed acquisition of land in the region even while the ban is in force.

In view of the shortage of housing in the area, HIMUDA is in the process of acquiring some 4,000 bighas (a bigha is 14,400 square feet) to build houses and other infrastructure.

Some months ago the Himachal government set up the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority and posted an IAS officer to head this body, chalk out a development plan, and to look into illegal deals by property dealers in the area.

Since early 2003, the Himachal government has attracted proposed industrial investments of over Rs 22,000 crore, bulk of which has taken place in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt.