Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Assembly on Friday passed the Uttarakhand (Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Destruction and Land Reforms Act, 1950) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking a significant step in land reforms and resource protection. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed it as part of a series of historic decisions aimed at promoting innovation and safeguarding the state’s demography and ecology.
🗣️ “We try to fulfil what we say. This land reform law is a step in that direction, ensuring protection against land mafias and misuse,” – CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
📜 Key Features of the Land Reforms Bill:
✅ Centralized Approval System:
- Collector-level permissions abolished in 11 districts for land purchase.
- State government to approve purchases in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
✅ Residential Land Purchase Regulations:
- Affidavit mandatory for buying land over 250 sq. meters.
- False affidavits will lead to land vesting in the state government.
✅ Industrial & Agricultural Land Purchases:
- Land transfer over 12.5 acres now requires state-level approval in Haridwar & Udham Singh Nagar.
- Micro, small, and medium industry land permissions shifted to state-level authority.
✅ Encroachment & Misuse Crackdown:
- 3461.74 acres of illegal encroachments cleared from forest and government lands.
- Out of 599 cases of land misuse, suits filed in 572 cases, with 9.4760 hectares reclaimed.
🌿 Why It Matters:
🛡️ Protects state resources from land mafias.
🌳 Safeguards ecology and prevents illegal encroachments.
🏗️ Facilitates genuine industrial and tourism investments while curbing exploitation.
📈 Aims to balance development with environmental conservation.
🏗️ Focus on Public Sentiment & Stakeholder Input:
✅ Consultations held in Gairsain, at the district magistrate and tehsil levels.
✅ Law shaped through public suggestions and stakeholder feedback.
🗣️ CM Dhami’s Vision for Uttarakhand:
“The original form of Uttarakhand must be preserved. This law ensures that the state’s demography and culture are protected, while encouraging responsible investment.”
“Illegal occupations have been cleared for the first time in history. Our aim is to maintain a balance between development and conservation.”
🌟 With this amendment, Uttarakhand embarks on a journey of responsible growth, environmental preservation, and people-centric governance.