Amid the controversy over his agitation against corruption and black money, the huge piece of land acquired by Ramdev in Himachal Pradesh has come under scanner.
When such vast lands are being acquired, there are, however, virtually no holds barred, say experts in the field. But the causes remain different, they aver.
This is despite the existing tough land measures in these hilly states especially in Uttarakhand where outsiders cannot purchase more than 250 square metres of land.
Be it Ramdev or any top business house, vast pieces of lands are being acquired at Haridwar, Dehradun and other areas in the name of setting up social enterprises or new industries, official documents revealed.
From Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust to multi-business conglomerate ITC, all are acquiring land in hectares in Uttarakhand where a government permission is required to acquire more than 250 square metres of land, according to the amended Uttarakhand land reforms Act in 2007.
Jaiprakash Associates, Amara Raja Batteries, Tube Investment India, Himalayan School Society and several other big companies and social enterprises also figure in the list, the documents showed.
According to state revenue minister Diwakar Bhatt, despite stringent law measures in Uttarakhand, vast land can still be purchased or acquired for the purpose of agriculture and horticulture, industry, hotels, medical and educational purposes. “We believe these lands are being acquired through proper government permission,” said Bhatt.
However, top social activists have now asked the government to explain under what rates these companies and social enterprises and especially how Ramdev were allowed to purchase land in the state. “We want the government to explain the rates of purchase of these lands or face our agitation,” said Avadash Kaushal, the head of RLEK, a Dehradun-based NGO.
In the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, despite the existence of strong land measures, the government is giving land to Ramdev and other social enterprises on 90 to 99 years of lease.
But some lacunae in these land measures have also given rise to scams in the recent past especially in Uttarakhand with top politicians coming under scanner.
