4 September 2013
SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today approved the draft HP Lease Rules, 2013, after scrapping the provision for sub-leasing and permitting granting of land on lease only in those cases where no alternative private land was available.
Apart from the above provisions, the draft rules state that government land may be leased out for self-employment of ex-servicemen, war widows and BPL families, for building of residential houses by landless Himachalis and for the rehabilitation of people affected by natural calamities.
The draft rules clarified that encroached upon government land would not be leased out to the encroacher but, after being cleared of squatters, may be leased out to eligible persons or institutions.
Before the granting of government land on lease, the period for which is to be determined by state officials, a no objection certificate from estate right-holders would have to be obtained.
The draft Rules would be published in the official gazette inviting objections and suggestions from the general public before it is finalised.
The draft rules also propose that the lease amount be calculated per annum at 10 per cent of the current circle rates notified by the district collector.
However, in case of hydro-electric projects, which are exclusively reserved for bona fide Himachalis, the lease amount would be charged at 5 per cent. Further, it has been proposed that after every five years, lease amount will be increased by 5 per cent.
And, instead of the earlier provisions for sub leasing, it has been proposed that the lessee may get into an agreement to manage, operate and maintain the leased property.
There will also be a restriction on the lessee to utilise the land within a period of three years from the date of the registration of the lease deed.
Among other decisions, the cabinet okayed the upgrade of Sub-Tehsil Kotli in Mandi district to the status of a Tehsil.
It also decided to open a Tehsil at Ner Chowk in Mandi district along with three Kanungo Circles at Balh, Pairi and Rewalsar and 27 Patwar Circles.
The qualification required for recruitment as Anganwadi workers and helpers, where suitable claimants were absent in the feeder area, was lowered for the Middle to Primary level.
It was also decided that the HP Industrial Development Bank (HPIDB) will make an equity contribution of Rs 350 crore in HP Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) for the Shongtong-Karcham (450 MW), Sainj (100 MW), Sawara Kuddu (111 MW) and Kashang (234 MW) hydro-electric projects (HEPs) during 2013-14.
The equity contribution by the state government of Rs 350 crore would be disinvested by it from HPPCL in favour of HPIDB and the same would be treated as equity.
The cabinet, meanwhile, approved grant of 10 months' extension on payment of a fee of Rs 20,000 per MW per month in favour of developer Venture Energies Technologies Ltd for obtaining clearances and begin construction on the Sai Kothi (15 MW) HEP.
Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to extension for a period of five months, at a fee of Rs 20,000 per MW per month, to the Seltu Masarang (24 MW) HEP and also approved initiation of action for damages/penalty against Brakel Corporation NV in the implementation of Jangi-Thopan- Powari (960 MW) HEP.
It was decided that LPG and power supply numbers would be included along with the employment exchange registration number in the Biometric Enrolment Form for the National Population Register.
In another decision, Cabinet cancelled the construction of the Palchan-Rohtang ropeway project in Kullu district.
Published by: The Economic Times