Policy to deal with encroachment on government land

  • 01/10/2003

  • Tribune (New Delhi)

The Himachal Government would soon frame a policy on the encroachment of government lands, particularly of forests with a focus on providing at least 80 square metres to 120 square metres plots for house to homeless Himachalis. Himachal Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, at a press conference here said today, that the new policy would also have a provision for allotting farm lands to the landless, small and marginal farmers. He said that his government had decided deal with all such defaulters in a firm way. Mr Virbhadra Singh regretted that the Dhumal government had allowed itself to become a mute spectator even as lakhs of trees were being felled by the encroachers to clear forest lands for other usages.