21 given govt, forest land illegally in D’sala

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 10

The transfer of government and forest land to 21 lease holders in depot bazaar here by local tehsil office has stirred up a controversy. The land has been registered in their names during the recent Lok Sabha elections.

In a complaint to the CM office, it was alleged that the land had been transferred illegally. The cost of land taken from the lease holders was just Rs 6.59 per square metre that came to about Rs 111 per marla in the heart of Dharamsala, whereas the circle rate in the area is about Rs 8,000 per square metre.

The complainant alleged that the forest land could not be transferred in the name of lease holders as per directions of the Supreme Court and High Court.

The complainant alleged that the 21 lease holders were given land on one lease by the Kangra DC in the late 1970s. They continued to occupy the land. The Dhumal government in 2003 brought a policy to make the persons owner of the land. However, the policy was struck down by the High Court.

Sources said as per the policy of the state government, only four-marla land could be transferred, but 20 to 30 marlas had been transferred in Dharamsala. Moreover, most of people who got the land were rich.

Kangra DC Rakesh Prajapati said he was yet to receive a copy of complaint from the CM office. He would order an inquiry into the transfer of land.

The sources said earlier also, the forest land had been transferred in violation of rules. While in Shimla, apple orchards grown illegally on forestland were being uprooted, in Dharamsala, the forest land had been transferred to people, alleged the complainant.

In violation of SC order

• The cost of land taken from the lease holders was just Rs 6.59 per square metre that came to about Rs 111 per marla in the heart of Dharamsala, whereas the circle rate in the area is about Rs 8,000 per square metre.
• The complainant alleged that the forest land could not be transferred in the name of lease holders as per directions of the Supreme Court and High Court
• Only 4-marla land could be transferred but 20 to 30 marlas had been transferred in Dharamsala