Congress: Will take legal route if no action taken against distribution of government land in Uttarakhand

Congress has alleged that corruption is being committed in Uttarakhand by handing over government land to private hands at throwaway prices. The party stated that a memorandum will be submitted to the Governor demanding action in this matter, and if no action is taken, legal recourse will be pursued.

Senior Congress leader and Uttarakhand in-charge Kamari Shailja, speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters here on Wednesday, said that government land, hereditary properties, and land related to various projects have been handed over to private individuals at rates far below market value at approximately 40 locations across Uttarakhand.

She alleged that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has centralized all powers related to land in his hands and is the sole member of the recommendation committee.

She said that the cases involving 633 acres of IDPL land in Rishikesh, 142 acres in Mussoorie, and forest land in Dhanauli, Nainital, and Ramgarh are also serious. Similarly, the cases of 190 acres in Dakpatthar and 53 acres in Rani Bagh are also included. No clear answer has been given as to on what basis and to whom this land is being handed over. She said that once land goes into private hands, it becomes difficult to take it back.

A Congress leader alleged that the Dhami government is seizing people's land and deceiving them. Accusing the Chief Minister of spending 11,000 crore rupees on his publicity, he said that if real developmental work had been done, there would have been no need to spend such an amount on publicity, and the current situation in the state would not be what it is.

She said that Congress leaders and common people are holding dharnas and protests against the alleged distribution and corruption of land at various places in the state. She stated that Congress has collected facts and documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in these matters, and a memorandum will be submitted to the Governor based on this evidence. If no action is taken even after that, the party will opt for legal alternatives.

She said that when the Congress government comes to power, all these cases will be exposed, and action will be taken against the guilty.

The Congress General Secretary said that 1,080 acres of land belonging to various departments have been handed over to the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB) with the signatures of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He said that it is surprising that Mr. Dhami himself will decide both matters: from whom the land is to be taken and to whom it is to be given.

He said that tenders have now been issued to give land to private hands, which include 14 acres of land in Patwa Dangar and the Alaknanda Hotel. He stated that the state government does not want to work for the public through the Land Bank, but is instead handing over land to private individuals at throwaway prices instead of market value.