Shimla, June 8
Real estate business being undertaken by builders from outside the state on plots owned by Himachalis to circumvent the land laws and facilitate the sale of such dwellings can come under the scanner of the Revenue Department.

The department will ask all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to probe all such cases where the probability of the landowner having spent such a huge sum on construction of flats is unlikely, with no apparent major source of income.

It has come to the notice of the state government that in several cases, builders from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and other places have pumped in money to construct flats on land owned by Himachalis. Some individuals belonging to Maharashtra and other states, who are keen to purchase flats, have sought permission under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act from the government.

Sources said considering the financial standing of many landowners, who are bonafide Himachalis, it seemed unlikely that they could have spent such a huge sum.

There are several instances in Shimla as well as other parts of the state where builders enter into an agreement with the landowner for constructing flats. The entire expenditure on construction is made by the builder and the landowner either takes a full floor or charges a hefty amount so that his name is used as the owner of the flats whereas it is a real estate venture by a builder.

Though difficult to ascertain as to who has made the expenditure on the construction of flats, the DCs are being asked to check the profession of the landowner and the source of income he uses for making flats.

“We will also probe whether the land is inherited or bought by the owner and since how long is it in his name,” said an official. In cases, where construction of flats is started immediately after purchase of land by a bonafide Himachali not having a major source of income, there will be reason for doubt.

Under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act, outsiders cannot purchase land in Himachal without permission from the Revenue Department. There is also fear that in case permission is granted for sale of such flats made by Himachalis, builders will be encouraged into such modus operandi of doing easy real estate business.

Solan, June 8
Close on the heels of Punjab announcing a slew of sops to woo the industry, investors in Himachal too are now demanding relaxations in stamp duty, power tariff and speedy clearances.

The Nalagarh Industries Association (NIA), which convened its annual meeting recently, has demanded a 5 per cent reduction in the electricity duty, from the existing 17 per cent to 12 per cent. It has also demanded that new units being set up since January this year should be granted 100 per cent exemption.

Prem Sharma, president, NIA, who was elected for the second term, emphasised the fact that infrastructure development charges should be made on a one-time basis for any unit and location, and they should not be charged again with a change in ownership. He also stressed the need for quality power availability by reducing unscheduled trippings and voltage fluctuations so as to offset the additional financial burden of transporting raw materials and final products to other destinations.

With the stamp duty waiver for new units having been made available to investors in Punjab, NIA has demanded a similar relaxation in Himachal as it will help attract new investors.

A demand for reducing the central sales tax (CST) from the existing 1.5 per cent has also been made. Vinod Khurana, general secretary, NIS, said since the neighbouring Punjab had reduced the CST by 75 per cent to 0.5 per cent and in Rajasthan it was 0.25 per cent for new units, a reduction in this rate should be made.

With clearances taking several months despite the Industries Minister's announcement to reduce this period to 90 days, NIA demanded that its time period should be fixed to 45 days so that undue delays are avoided.

Issues like multiple taxation system, with entry tax, additional goods tax etc, further burdening the industry, NIA demanded a review of this system.

NIA also demanded the restoration of the centrally sponsored capital subsidy and demanded waiver in various taxes for the food processing industry on the lines of Punjab.

A demand to curtail unethical practices by truck unions, that monopolise transportation work and charge exorbitant freight, was also made by the association.

The association elected Pankaj Bansal and Sahil Bansal vice-presidents, Vinod Khurana, Hitender Chawla and Sanjeev Kothari general secretaries, Anil Sharma press secretary, SK Arora organising secretary, Rajnish Sharma treasurer and JS Kang convener of NIA’s Environment Protection and CSR Cell.

Mandi, June 8
Launching a counter-attack against the ruling Congress, Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal today accused Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of allotting 6,000 bighas of land for the controversial Himalayan ski village alone, whereas the BJP during its entire tenure had given 7,012 bighas under Section 118.

Addressing a press conference in support of BJP candidate Jai Ram Thakur in Mandi today, Dhumal alleged that the Congress was making a false propaganda about the land deals and violations under Section 118 to get votes. But the Virbhadra government was giving 6,000 bighas to the ski village proposed to come up in Manali which was opposed by the locals.

Dhumal claimed that his government had cancelled the permission given to the ski village as it was opposed by the locals. Dhumal claimed that the Mandi bylection was tough and this could be measured from the fact that Virbhadra Singh could not attend the important National Security Council meeting in New Delhi.

Palampur, June 8
Fiftyone students of the CSK HP Agriculture University have qualified the junior research fellowship (JRF) examination of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). Thirtythree students of the College of Agriculture,15 of the Dr GCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and three of the College of Home Science have passed the ICAR-JRF examination.

Ten students of the College of Agriculture and five of the Dr GCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences have secured ranks in the top 100 positions in the country.

Bilaspur, June 8
Amar Singh Chandel (54), NGO leader and state president of the Education Department Class IV Employees Union, died at the PGI, Chandigarh. Reports said Chandel, four-time state president, had been ill for some time.

Sundernagar, June 8
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said BJP leader PK Dhumal, during his tenure as Chief Minister, had confined development activities only to Hamirpur while on the other hand the Congress was known for the development of the whole state.

Addressing an election meeting here last evening, he said Dhumal had roots in Jalandhar as he spent most of his time there. He was a non-resident Himachali and had least interest in the development of the state.

He said Dhumal had misused the police and the Vigilance Department and got false cases registered against him and Congress men. He said due to a false case, he had to resign as Central minister and later on acquitted by a court and the public of Himchal had taught Dhumal a lesson. Earlier, Virbhadra Singh addressed election meetings at Nihari, Paura Kothi and Rohanda in the Sundernagar Assembly segment in favour of Pratibha Singh. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rajesh Dharmani and Sohanlal Thakur, MLA, Sundernagar, also addressed a gathering.