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The Ambaji Area Development and Pilgrimage Tourism Governance Act, 2020

The Ambaji Area Development and Pilgrimage Tourism Governance Act, 2020

General202057 sections11 chapters

The Ambaji Area Development and Pilgrimage Tourism Governance Act, 2020 establishes a dedicated governance authority to oversee planned development, civic infrastructure, and tourism management around the Maa Ambaji Temple in Gujarat. It applies to residents, landowners, developers, businesses, tourist guides, and visitors operating within the designated pilgrimage area. The law mandates strict building permission processes, regulates commercial tourism trades, empowers officials to remove unauthorized encroachments or nuisances, and prohibits begging and touting. This Act matters because it ensures modern amenities, aesthetic standards, health services, and organized facilities for millions of pilgrims while preserving the temple trust's religious independence.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Definitions

Chapter II DECLARATION OF PILGRIMAGE TOURISM →

  1. 3Declaration of Pilgrimage Tourism development area
  2. 4Constitution of Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority
  3. 5Term of office and conditions of service of members
  4. 6Meeting of Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority and transaction of business

Chapter III CONSTITUTION OF AMBAJI PILGRIMAGE TOURISM →

  1. 7Constitution of Committees
  2. 8Validity of acts and proceedings of Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority and committees

Chapter IV POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF AMBAJI PILGRIMAGE →

  1. 9Powers and functions of Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority

Chapter V TOWN PLANNING →

  1. 10Application of President's Act No. 27 of 1976.

Chapter VI CONTROL, REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN →

  1. 11Restriction on development after publication of draft development plan.
  2. 12Application of permission for development.
  3. 13Permission for retention or continuance of use of any building or work or any use of land.
  4. 14Grant or refusal of permission.
  5. 15Unauthorized construction.
  6. 16Obligation to purchase land on refusal of permission or grant of permission in certain cases.
  7. 17Lapse of permission.
  8. 18Power of revocation and modification of permission to development.
  9. 19Penalty for unauthorized development or use or continuance or retention of the use without permission
  10. 20Power to require removal of unauthorized development or use
  11. 21Removal of unauthorized, temporary development summarily
  12. 22Recovery of expenses incurred
  13. 23Development under taken on behalf of Government and Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority

Chapter VII PILGRIMAGE TOURISM AREA PROTECTION AND →

  1. 24District police to assist Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority
  2. 25Appointment of Prescribed Authority
  3. 26Prevention of nuisance
  4. 27Power of Prescribed Authority to prohibit nuisance
  5. 28Prohibition of certain activities in Pilgrimage Tourism development area

Chapter VIII LICENSING, REGISTRATION, RECOGNITION AND →

  1. 29Registration, Recognition and Grading
  2. 30Appointment of Tourist Guide and licensing

Chapter IX AMBAJI PILGRIMAGE TOURISM AUTHORITY TO BE AN →

  1. 31Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority to be an Industrial Township

Chapter X FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND ANNUAL REPORTS OF AMBAJI →

  1. 32Funds of Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority
  2. 33Power of authority to borrow money
  3. 34Recovery of arrears
  4. 35Accounts and Audit
  5. 36Annual Report
  6. 37Provident fund

Chapter XI MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 38Effect with respect to land right
  2. 39Information on Pilgrimage Tourism.
  3. 40Power of State Government to appoint its employees.
  4. 41State Government or person appointed by it may exercise powers, perform duty conferred or imposed on Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority and disbursement of expense in certain circumstances.
  5. 42Power of entry.
  6. 43Service of notice, etc.
  7. 44Public notice how to be made known.
  8. 45Reasonable time for notice.
  9. 46Offence by companies.
  10. 47Effect of other laws.
  11. 48Application of provisions of section 65 of Gujarat Land Revenue Code, 1879.
  12. 49Land deemed to be for public purpose.
  13. 50Members, officers and employees to be public servants.
  14. 51Protection of action taken in good faith
  15. 52Power of State Government to give directions
  16. 53Power of State Government to make rules
  17. 54Power of Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority to make regulations
  18. 55Power of State Government to remove difficulties
  19. 56Saving

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