By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 11 Dec: Retired senior bureaucrat and member of the ‘Bhoo Kanoon Samanvay Samiti’, Surendra Singh Pangti today alleged that several top-level bureaucrats are involved in openly violating the existing land laws of the state. Addressing a press conference at the Uttaranchal Press Club here today, along with the Coordinator of the Samiti, Mohit Dimri, he claimed that many senior serving and retired bureaucrats are involved in open violation of the land laws of the state. Pangti, a former Garhwal Commissioner, and Dimri also alleged that close relatives of a former District Magistrate have purchased land illegally beyond the permissible limit of 250 square metres.
Addressing the media persons at the Press Club, Pangti claimed that 300 bighas of land were transferred to an individual in Chharba village in violation of the land laws which prohibit outsiders from purchasing more than 250 square metres of agricultural land. He pointed out that under an ongoing construction project named Disha-One and Disha-Two, over 300 bighas of land in village Paundha has been transferred to some outsiders who have developed the land and are selling it to several IAS, IPS and PCS officers in violation of the land laws. Pangti accused these officers of playing a significant role in the illegal acquisition of land. Dimri claimed that a former District Magistrate has also bought land in the name of her husband and brother-in-law.
He further alleged that the land of Golden Forests, which had been already vested in the government, was also illegally sold to bureaucrats and others at throwaway prices with the connivance of top revenue officers. Pangti and Dimri also named some IAS officers for buying more than the permitted 250 square metres of land in Paundha. He reminded that a colony is being constructed for officers in Paundha, which Pangti described as the biggest scam. Pangti and Dimri further alleged that not only the land of Golden Forests vested in the government was illegally sold but also the land belonging to the SC community, which by law can’t be sold to the persons of general category. He claimed that 64 bighas of land belonging to Scheduled Castes were sold without the necessary permission from the District Magistrate.
Pangti felt that there is little possibility of an impartial investigation into this scam when high-ranking officers are involved in illegal land deals.
He said that, while on the one hand, the government does not have land for schools, colleges, and hospitals, on the other hand, land worth crores of rupees has been sold at a very low price to a private university. He also criticised SIDCUL for giving 60 acres of land to a non-native of Uttarakhand on a 90-year lease at a very low price, despite the fact that the land in question was intended for allotment for small industries for local people. Pangti emphasised the significant role of officers in the illegal land acquisitions.
