By Umanand Jaiswal
Guwahati, Jul 1 : Dispur is on the verge of finalising a legislation that will restrict the use of cultivable land for non-agricultural activities without the permission of “competent” authorities.
The draft of the proposed legislation, contents of which has been kept under wraps, was approved by the chief minister a few days back and has been returned to the legislative department for formal vetting before it is placed before the cabinet for its approval.
Efforts are on to table a bill to this effect in the ensuing five-day Assembly session from July 12 — if not, surely by the session that will follow.
Though an executive order prohibiting transfer of land ownership without the permission of the authorities exists even today, the order can be challenged in the court of law.
The proposed piece of law may not envisage a total ban, but it will have enough checks to ensure that its inherently objective is not defeated — keep cultivable land intact to ensure future food security.
A source said the proposed law would make its violation a criminal offence; impose heavy fines; make it mandatory for industry and education departments to seek clearance of the revenue department about the nature of the landholding before sanction is accorded for new industrial/educational ventures.
“It is still at the drafting stage. The final call will be that of the legislators who will also have something to add or subtract from the proposed law. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi is concerned about food security vis-à-vis depleting cultivable area because of rise in population, industrialisation and erosion by Brahmaputra in the state. Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Bangalore, which have a booming real estate sector, are other states working to save its agri sector,” a source said.
A close look at the agriculture sector suggests that Dispur’s worry is not unfounded.
Around 40 per cent of the total 78,438 square km area in the state is cultivable while eight per cent of the total area has been lost to erosion. Moreover, Assam is a major importer of foodgrain.
The Centre had even instructed Dispur to increase its growth in agriculture and allied sector from 0.27 in 2006-07 to two per cent during the 11th Five Year Plan.
The “growing” interest of investors is another reason to initiate the legislation.
“It is important from the industrial point of view as well. An investor, before buying a plot of land, will know beforehand whether it can be used for non-agricultural purposes or not. It will avoid last-minute inconveniences and bitterness between them, locals and the administration. Everyone will know what one is venturing into — no scope for blame-game if things go wrong,” a source said.
A source said there have been instances where residents have objected to setting up of industrial units in rural areas, mainly agrarian belt, at the last minute on various grounds like pollution.
“Since we are at a take-off stage, such situations are best avoided. Such a law will be of great help,” the source said.
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