Government notifies draft rules to generate Rs 1,000 crore additional land revenue

The state government is hoping to generate Rs 1,000 crore per annum by charging revenue on all kinds of land that is used for non-agricultural purpose by owners. The Revenue Department had issued a notification on August 11 for making an amendment to the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue (Special Assessment) Rules, 1986. The state government has invited objections and suggestions within 15 days on the Draft Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue (Special Assessment) Amendment Rules, 2025, which it has notified.

“A revenue officer can at the time of assessment determine the average market value in the case of land that is used for non-agricultural purpose,” the draft rules say. It is also pointed out that the revenue officer can seek the help of the Director or the head of the department concerned to determine the market value.

The draft rules, however, do not mention the rate at which the land revenue will be levied. The land revenue rate in the Bill passed by the Vidhan Sabha has been specified at maximum four per cent of the market value.

Though the land revenue was charged in Himachal Pradesh earlier also, it was very nominal. The government now proposes to enhance it and generate additional revenue.

The draft rules specify that the places where the data of the sale price of sites is available, the land revenue will be fixed in accordance with the sale price during the past five years, immediately preceding the assessment.

In places where such data is not available, the sale price of the sites in similar localities in the nearest block or assessment circle during the past five years, immediately preceding the assessment, will determine the land revenue.