Nu IANS,
Shimla : An amendment bill seeking to exempt entrepreneurs and religious groups involved in creating educational and sports facilities from the provisions of land ceiling law was introduced in the Himachal Pradesh assembly Thursday, amid protests by the opposition Congress.
Introducing the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2011, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Ravi said the government was inviting investors and entrepreneurs for setting up industry in information technology, biotechnology and tourism and hydropower projects.
“But they cannot hold land more than permissible area specified under section 4 of the law for setting up such projects… it has been decided to amend section 5 suitably and to provide exemption to these bodies,” said Ravi of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Congress opposed the introduction of the bill and said the state’s first chief minister Y.S. Parmar had brought in the land ceiling law to check indiscriminate purchase of land.