Uttarakhand is gearing up to adopt a land ownership model akin to Himachal Pradesh, aiming to restrict non-locals from purchasing land in rural hill regions. Recent reports suggest that the state government is considering stringent measures to make it more difficult for outsiders to acquire land and homes in the rural areas of Uttarakhand's hills. The proposed laws, inspired by Himachal Pradesh's Tenancy and Land Reforms Act of 1972, are designed to protect the state's interests by limiting land purchases in these areas.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's administration had established a special committee over a year ago to examine this matter. The committee, which submitted its findings, recommended imposing strict restrictions on land purchases in non-municipal hill regions.

A committee member revealed that the new legislation mirrors the Himachal Pradesh model, focusing on preventing individuals not native to Uttarakhand from buying land in rural hill areas. According to The Statesman, the report also proposes imposing limits on land acquisitions in urban areas to address concerns about outside investors exploiting the state's resources.

This move stems from the historical fluctuations in Uttarakhand's land policies. Back in 2003, then Chief Minister ND Tiwari permitted outsiders to buy land in hill areas, albeit with a cap of 500 square meters. Subsequent governments, including the BJP-led administration under BC Khanduri, reduced this limit to 250 square meters to deter large-scale land transactions. However, in 2017, the then Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat lifted these restrictions to attract investments in hilly regions.

After facing protests across various districts, the state government formed a five-member committee to scrutinize a draft report presented by a panel led by former Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar in 2022. The recommendations might result in the reinstatement of the 12.5-acre limit for land transactions in the hills.

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