Land resettlement to be carried out in Uttarakhand ; Bhatt

Hardwar, Apr 1 (UNI) Uttarakhand Revenue, Land Management, Natural Disasters Management Minister Diwakar Bhatt today said a comprehensive survey for land resettlement will be carried out in the state.

''Land resettlement (bandobast) on the basis of local requirements and geographical conditions will be carried out in the entire state,'' he told mediapersons here.

The government will carry out a comprehensive survey before carrying out resettlement throughout the state,''Mr Bhatt added.

Expressing concern at the mushrooming increase in the number of builders and the spiralling land prices in the plain districts, the minister said the activities of the property dealers and colonisers would be regulated in the state.

''Licenses will be issued to property dealers and only registered ones will be allowed to carry on with their work, which has become a highly lucrative business. We may also request the Centre to allow the state to enforce section 371 to ban the sale and purchase of land by 'outsiders' in the state,'' he added.

Mr Bhatt said the state would be divided into three geographical zones for development purposes. ''Different types of developmental projects need to be undertaken in various areas in the state. We shall divide the state into three zones --areas up to the height of 1,000 feet from the sea level, areas between 1,000 to 3,500 feet and areas above 3,500 feet.'' ''The developmental projects will be launched considering the local requirements and the topography of the three zones,'' he added.

UNI