Villagers in Nainital demand land rights
Residents of Bindukhatta village in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district have been holding demonstrations demanding land ownership rights and declaration of their settlement as a revenue village.
“Villagers have been pressing for a revenue village status for Bindukhatta and the government must acknowledge the rights of the people,” said Purushottam Sharma, a farmer leader from Lalkuan.
Bindukhatta is now a forest village, which enjoys only community rights over land carved out of a reserved forest; government may cancel such rights. During the British rule, villages were set up after clearing jungles to promote cattle rearing and animal husbandry.
A revenue village is considered a small administrative unit with a definite surveyed boundary, and residents enjoy individual land ownership rights.
People began to settle in Bindukhatta in the 1980s; they do not have land ownership rights, which means that they do not have registry papers. People of Galjwadi village in Dehradun have also been demanding land ownership rights.
Congress leader Sumit Hridyesh said, “Bindukhatta issue is quite serious as people are devoid of the basic right of land ownership.”
The state government had promised land rights to Bindukhatta villagers in 2014, but no order was given. Bindukhatta was to be a made a nagar palika -- an local body that administers an urban area with a population 100,000 or more -- around two years ago, but the government withdrew the decision after protests by residents.
Naveen Dumka, BJP MLA from Lalkuan, said, “Bindukhatta is now spread over an area of 24 square km and has a population close to 1 lakh.” Dumka had earlier promised revenue village status to Bindukhatta, which comes under Lalkuan constituency.
“It is a long pending demand of the people and there are many such areas in the country that are similar to Bindukhatta. This is a constitutional issue and I am making efforts to find a solution,” said Dumka. “The main problem is that Bindukhatta is listed as a forest land and the procedure for deforesting the area is a big exercise.”
Heartbroken Dehradun youth opens up tea joint called 'Dil Tuta Aashiq cafe'
- The visitors are commending the concept of the cafe and sharing their tales with of heartbreak.
Uttarakhand BJP forms 5-member panel to prepare for 2022 assembly polls
- Uttarakhand BJP leaders and ministers have been asked to tour their respective districts and areas and interact with party workers and people there.
No mobiles for guides, gypsy drivers inside Corbett Tiger Reserve
- This decision was taken after authorities found drivers talking on the phone during safaris or going too close to the wildlife for making videos.
Uttarakhand confirms first case of UK Covid-19 variant
Elderly woman killed in wild boar attack in Uttarakhand’s Almora
- A labourer carrying an axe rushed to save the elderly woman and attacked the boar. While the boar succumbed to severe injuries, the woman could not be saved.
Uttarakhand to get first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines on Wednesday
- Uttarakhand government has requested the Centre for extra vaccines for Mahakumbh fair.
Mahakumbh: RT PCR report mandatory for incoming pilgrims for Makar Sankranti dip
- Thermal screening has also been made compulsory for hotels, dharamshalas, ashrams, guest houses and lodges before they check in pilgrims and tourists.
Mahakumbh 2021: Uttarakhand HC tells state govt to share SOP on crowd management
- Before the epidemic, over 12 crore pilgrims were expected to participate in the four-month-long Mahakumbh.
Bird flu: High alert issued in Uttarakhand
3 Akhadas to herald Mahakumbh 2021 on January 25
- According to Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad general secretary Mahant Hari Giri Maharaj, the first bhoomi pujan will be performed at Juna Akhada on January 16.
Harish Rawat urges Cong high command to declare CM candidate for 2022 polls
- The bickering in Uttarakhand Congress over who will lead the party as the chief ministerial candidate in the 2022 assembly polls has come out in the open.
Reviving ghost villages: Uttarakhand govt to train 10k youth in mushroom farming
- The focus of the government would be the villages abandoned by its residents in the hills which are popularly known as 'ghost villages'.
NSG commandos to counter terror threat during Mahakumbh 2021
- Kumbh Mela Force had sought elite National Security Guards for Kumbh fair keeping in mind the sensitivity of the mega fair and terror threat.
Uttarakhand Congress plans 'charge sheet' against BJP government
- Yadav reiterated a claim made by a senior party leader that many leaders of the ruling party were contacting Congress leadership for a switch.
Saints pitch in for inclusion of 'Kinnars' as 14th addition to Akhada Parishad
- There are thirteen Akhadas under the umbrella of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad.