Considering the unique geographical conditions of the state’s mountainous regions, the State Cabinet has taken a historic decision. With the objective of consolidating fragmented land holdings and promoting agriculture in mountainous areas, approval has been granted to implement the “Voluntary/Partial Consolidation Promotion Policy-2026 in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand State.” This policy will prove to be a comprehensive and visionary initiative for the economic upliftment of farmers in the mountainous districts and for agricultural development.
For the successful implementation of this policy, the government has set strict guidelines and targets.
Revitalization of 275 villages in 5 years
Under the policy, consolidation work will be completed every year in 5 villages per district across the state’s 11 mountainous districts. Thus, an ambitious target has been set to cover a total of 275 villages under voluntary/partial consolidation over the next 5 years.
Eligibility and strict conditions
Only those villages that are completely free from any kind of land dispute will be selected for consolidation. Additionally, the total minimum land area of the concerned consolidation zone must be at least 10.00 hectares. In case of a smaller area, written consent from a minimum of 25 landholders will be mandatory.
Formation of consolidated holdings through mutual consent
Under this policy, landowners will carry out the formation of consolidated holdings through mutual consent. Farmers will themselves prepare the consolidation plan and submit it to the concerned authorities.
Benefits of incentive amount
Under the policy, special incentives and benefits have been provided to landholders/farmers. These benefits will be payable only after the completion of the voluntary/partial consolidation plan.
Application process
To avail the benefits of the scheme, interested farmers/landholders may submit their application forms to the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) or the Assistant Collector (Sub-Divisional Officer).
Three-tier monitoring mechanism
For the transparent operation, monitoring, and review of the policy, a High Power Committee (HPC) has been constituted at the state level, along with a state-level monitoring committee and a district-level implementation committee.
Policy review after 3 years
Based on practical experiences and suggestions, necessary amendments and improvements will be made to the policy after 3 years of its implementation.
Since the majority of the state’s area is marginal and mountainous, and due to the abundance of forest resources and wildlife biodiversity, the availability of land for agricultural production is minimal. This decision will bring revolutionary changes in agriculture, horticulture, and allied agricultural activities in the state.
