Land reforms on new Haryana govt's agenda

The state govt will make efforts to formulate a transparent land acquisition and management policy

The Haryana government will make efforts to formulate a transparent land acquisition and management policy. It will also adopt a land-use policy that facilitates a scientific identification of non-cultivable land and its strategic development in the state, said Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki while addressing the newly-elected members of the 13th Haryana Assembly in Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday.

The forcible land acquisitions by the government during the Congress regime from the farmers in the National Capital Region was a major political issue during the Assembly elections in Haryana.

"My government intends to perform its maximum to protect the legitimate rights of the state in river water sharing. All efforts will be made for early completion of the Sutlej Yamuna link canal," he said.

Renewed efforts would also be made to remove all legal hurdles in the commissioning of the Hansi Butana link canal at the earliest. He said the state government would take all necessary steps to amicably defend Haryana's other legitimate rights, including pending inter-state issues with the neighbouring states.

The state recorded an average agricultural growth of 2.7 per cent in the last five years that is lower than the national average. Inadequate canal irrigation has resulted into excessive usage of underground water and eventually which has led to the dwindling water table.

The state government, he said, is committed to ensuring Gau Raksha and making Goverdhan central to the government's plans to promote animal husbandry and dairy development sectors. This will enable small and marginal farmers to achieve the security of livelihood and contribute to the state's economic growth.

Affirming the government's commitment to ensuring water security, Solanki said, "My government will provide adequate piped drinking water to all the villages and towns of Haryana, especially to the vulnerable households." There is a need for ensuring optimal use of our water resources to prevent recurrence of floods and droughts, he said.

The government would introduce Soil Health Card Scheme which will ensure increase in both quality and productivity of agriculture. This will be coupled with measures such as availability of cheap agricultural inputs, credit and high-yielding seeds for small and marginal farmers, said Solanki.

The government will also strive to introduce cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and medicinal plants in addition to traditional farming. Efforts will be made to address issues of pricing and procurement of agricultural produce, crop insurance and post-harvest management for farmers of the state.

It will modernise mandis through meaningful public-private partnerships and take all steps to promote the setting up of food processing industries in the state, Solanki said.