Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
In a crackdown on unutilized land purchases by outside investors, the district administration of Udham Singh Nagar have filed a case against Videocon Industries Ltd. for failing to use land acquired for industrial purposes in Kashipur. This high-profile case is part of a larger investigation ordered by the government to identify land acquisitions exceeding 250 square meters that remain unused or misused, potentially stalling the state’s industrial development objectives. Officials have served notices to 40 other also, who did not use the purchased land as promised. .
On October 11, Kashipur’s Regional Revenue Sub-Inspector and Revenue Inspector filed a report with Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Abhay Pratap Singh, detailing Videocon’s 0.607-hectare plot purchased in Kashipur’s Kudaaiwala village. Registered under Gata numbers 371, 372, and 373, the land, initially acquired for industrial development, has seen minimal construction, with only a guardroom present on the site. Following this review, the SDM issued a notice under Section 167 of the Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, giving Videocon Industries 15 days to respond or face further legal action.
“This land was acquired for industrial purposes, but it remains vacant,” said SDM Abhay Pratap Singh. “Videocon has been served a notice to explain the lack of development within 15 days. If a satisfactory reply is not received, further action will be taken.”
Videocon, once one of India’s prominent electronics manufacturers, was expected to contribute to Kashipur’s industrial growth through this investment. However, its closure and failure to develop the land are now emblematic of broader land misuse issues in Uttarakhand. Authorities have expanded the investigation across tehsils, revealing 41 cases where buyers have neglected to utilize purchased land as promised. Violations span multiple towns in the district with Rudrapur (14 cases), Kichha (9), Bazpur (7), Gadarpur (5), Jaspur (2), Sitarganj (2), and Nanakmatta (1). Most of these lands were purchased for agriculture or industry, yet remain unused or fall short of their stated purpose.
Ashok Kumar Joshi, Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue), said. “Of the identified cases, 24 involve agricultural land, nine relate to industry, three were designated for education, two for medical facilities, and three for residential plotting. All cases have been filed with the respective SDMs, and notices have been issued”.
Under Uttarakhand law, outsiders must seek approval to purchase land beyond 250 square meters, with up to 12.5 acres requiring permission from the District Magistrate and larger acquisitions needing government authorization. For Videocon and others, if responses to these notices are unsatisfactory, the state is prepared to reclaim the properties, ensuring compliance and preserving development goals.
