Hand over irrigation properties to Uttarakhand: HC to UP Govt

Despite Uttarakhand becoming a state in 2000,these properties were still being controlled by the Uttar Pradesh government. State Chief Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank has welcomed the decision of the bench comprising Justice BK Gupta and Justice BK Bisht.

According to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Indu Kumar Pande the properties that are to be transferred to Uttarakhand include 65 bighas of agricultural land in Hardwar along with 28 big canals and some water bodies and buildings located in Udham Singh Nagar.

He further informed that following the High Court judgement,the notification issued by the Centre on November 7,2000 with regards to the control of Uttar Pradesh over these properties has become null and void as Uttarakhand had come into being as a separate state after the notification.

A PIL pertaining to transfer of 65 bigha land in Hardwar and other irrigation properties to Uttarakhand had been filed by one Arvind Chauhan. It was mentioned that as per the notification of the Centre,the Uttar Pradesh government would manage the irrigation properties in Uttarakhand till the constitution of a Ganga Canal Board.

But despite Uttarakhand becoming a state,the control over these properties had not been handed over to the state and state government had gone on to contest the matter in the High Court. The Ganga Canal Board is yet to be constituted.