Himachal to make law for confiscation of illegal property
April 8th, 2011 - 6:14 pm ICT by IANS
Shimla, April 8 (IANS) Accused of corruption by the opposition Congress party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Himachal Pradesh is all set to bring a new legislation for confiscating property acquired through illegal means.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said in the state assembly Friday that a bill to confiscate property would be brought in the next session (monsoon) of the assembly.
“The aim is to make the state free from corruption,” Dhumal said in a statement.
Supporting the crusade of social activist Anna Hazare, who is on an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi for a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, he said, “The movement launched by Hazare is nothing less than an eye-opener”.
“It’s (corruption) a national issue and there should be no politics over it. It’s a common problem and all the legislators should jointly fight it out,” Dhumal said.
Dhumal’s announcement came on the last day of the assembly’s budget session when former five-time chief minister and union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Virbhadra Singh has launched a scathing attack against the state government on corruption.
Singh, a senior Congress leader who was in Shimla April 2, alleged that top political functionaries in the state were involved in illegal property transactions and promoting realtors.
Without naming anybody, he said Bantony Estate, a prime British-era property near Scandal Point in Shimla, has been purchased by a private party.
He slammed the government for allowing private builders to construct ultra-luxurious housing projects in the state.
Proceedings of the assembly were disrupted March 18 by the Congress over Bemloe Development and Infrastructure Company allegedly felling trees in a forested area in Shimla for developing cottages.
The opposition also questioned the government on the permission granted to another company, the Karnal-based Optima Construction Private Limited, for setting up a housing project in the resort of Kasauli in Solan district.
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- Committee to review Himachal land laws: Dhumal - May 04, 2011
- Himachal assembly panel to review realty norms - Apr 06, 2011
- BJP rulers in illegal property deals in Himachal: Virabhadra - Apr 02, 2011
- Congress slams ruling BJP for Himachal land deals - Aug 21, 2011
- Depleting forest cover major issue in Himachal assembly - Apr 13, 2011
- Buying dream cottage in Himachal may get tougher - Apr 11, 2012
- Dhumal backs Hazare, calls for fighting corruption - Apr 09, 2011
- Congress disrupts Himachal assembly over tree cutting - Mar 18, 2011
- Himachal to seize illegal assets of officials - Aug 30, 2011
- Himachal government seeks cancellation of Virbhadra's bail - Apr 07, 2011
- Will British era building soon be Shimla spa? (With Image) - Jul 27, 2011
- Himachal government promoting realtors: Congress - May 14, 2011
- Depleting forests in Himachal worry green activists (April 22 is Earth Day) - Apr 22, 2011
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