Land Confiscation in Kainchi Dham: Violation of Uttarakhand Land Laws Leads to Action Against Outside Purchasers

Nainital: In strict enforcement of Uttarakhand’s stringent land laws, authorities have confiscated 210 nali of land in Kainchi Dham, Nainital district, owned by individuals from other states. The administration’s tough stance on non-compliance with local land policies has led to a series of land seizures, first in Nainital, followed by Almora, and once again in Nainital, as non-compliant land acquisitions by outsiders are scrutinized.

In Kainchi Dham’s Chaursa village, six individuals from outside Uttarakhand had collectively purchased 210 nali of land. However, an inquiry led by SDM VC Pant’s team found that these individuals failed to meet the requirements under Uttarakhand’s land laws and regulations. Following an in-depth investigation, it was revealed that the land purchases had violated the state’s land policy, prompting the administration to recommend that ownership of this land be vested in the state government.

Land Purchases Unrecorded in Land Registry

According to SDM VC Pant, the inspections in Kainchi Dham’s Chaursa village discovered 50 nali purchased by Piyush Singhania and 100 nali in Kul village bought by Mahasapati Panwar. Additionally, in Chimi village, another individual had acquired land, and three people in Pyura village had purchased 60 nali collectively.

Upon examination, it was found that these land acquisitions were not documented in the state’s land registry, or “Khatauni.” Due to the absence of these records and the violation of Uttarakhand’s land policy, the administration has issued notices to these landowners, advising them of their non-compliance. A report has been submitted to transfer these land holdings to the state government.

Outsiders Face Uncertainty Amid Confiscation

The crackdown has left external landowners in Uttarakhand anxious. With the latest confiscations, authorities signal that further scrutiny of out-of-state land purchases may be imminent.