Ranchi, Dec. 14: The state cabinet today fixed prices of non-saleable raiyati (private) land in Santhal Pargana's Deoghar district, the first such major move after the state government amended the tenancy laws.

Cabinet coordination department secretary S.S. Meena said that land had been divided into three categories according to the nature of its use - dhani (low lying land, where paddy cultivation is good), bari (land used mainly for horticulture) and household land. The dhani and bari catgories have been further divided into sub-categories and prices fixed accordingly.

To begin with, the price of dhani I land has been set at Rs 12,27,600 per acre; dhani II Rs 9,20,700 per acre; dhani III and bari II Rs 6,13,800 per acre; bari I Rs 7,67,250 per acre; and household land 12,27, 600 per acre.

Also, according to the revised land acquisition policy, if someone gives up his land for industry, he will get four times the market price.

"For example, if a person in Deoghar parts with one acre dhani I or household land, he will get Rs 49,10,400. If the land is not being used for the particular purpose within five years, it will automatically go back to the original owner, who need not return the compensation," explained a senior official of the land revenue department.

Sources close to chief minister said that this decision also aimed at gauging public mood in the wake of amendments in tenancy laws.

"Land that comes under the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act is non-transferable," said an official at the chief minister's secretariat.

The cabinet also agreed to grant housing loans up to Rs 40 lakh at 4 per cent interest per annum to all sitting and former MLAs, who are eligible for pension benefits.

Other decisions:

• Sanction to construction of Ravindra Bhavan and Haj House in the state capital for Rs 167.03 crore and Rs 67.50 crore, respectively
• Construction of 400 houses in Deonagar, Jamshedpur, for leprosy patients at an estimated cost of Rs 30.67 crore
• Rs 78.76 crore for free Wifi facility at 30 colleges and universities across the state
•  Rs 2,136 crore approved for setting up 5 metric tonne cold storages, one each in Deoghar, Ranchi, Gumla and Giridih
•  Civil engineering department of IIT-Kharagpur will be engaged on nomination basis for third party inspection of release of municipal waste water in Ganga in Sahebganj
• Commission of PDS dealers raised from Rs 80 per quintal to Rs 100 per quintal
• Rs 20.19 crore approved for an innovation laboratory on Ratu Road, Ranchi, for promoting start-ups
• Chief minister's adviser Rajat Sethi will be given pay and perks equivalent to a secretary-rank officer.