Devinder
Pal
Chandigarh,
October 7
The
Punjab Government proposes to amend the Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act,
1961, to allow it the right over panchayat land (often referred to as “shamlat”
land) in the state. Sources said there was a proposal to give panchayat land to
private companies for setting up non-conventional energy (solar) units.
Officials
of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department have held meetings with
Advocate General (AG) Ashok Aggarwal on the issue of bringing amendments to the
Act. The AG has reportedly asked them to consult the Legal Remembrancer (LR).
Though
the move has the potential of giving a boost to the non-conventional energy
efforts of the state government, it would deprive panchayats of their main
source of income.
Panchayats
earn revenue by giving common land on lease. Approximately 1.55 lakh acres of
land is owned by panchayats in the state. It is no secret that in the past,
political leaders and other influential people have managed to usurp village
common land for personal gains.
Under
the Act, the ownership of village common land rests with the respective
panchayat, which can use it in any manner it wants. Any individual panchayat
can also give its land to the government for use by passing a resolution to
that effect.
Panchayats
can give common land on lease for a maximum period of 33 years. The government
cannot interfere in the use of common land of any village unless the respective
panchayat has passed a resolution to that effect.The panchayat of nearby
Manauli village recently gave some land on lease for 33 years, but the Punjab
and Haryana High Court stayed the lease.
© The
Tribune Trust, 2012
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