GHAZIABAD, Sept. 22 — The Uttar Pradesh government has stalled several orders passed by former Ghaziabad municipal commissioner Jitendra Singh, including those related to exchange of land to 10 private developers in Ghaziabad.
A total of 19 such orders were put on hold following an inquiry by Commissioner (Meerut) after complaints that the former municipal commissioner violated procedures under the UP Nagar Nigam Act, 1959.
In land exchange related to 10 private developers, the UP chief secretary has raised questions whether approvals were allegedly given without the proposals being cleared by the municipal corporation board and without the requisite approvals of the state government.
The instances of land exchange relates to private builders like Amazon Infrastructure, Panchsheel Promoters, Crossing Developers, Crossing Construction, Ambassador Infrastructure, New Capital Infrastructure, Ajnara India Ltd, Crossing Real Estate and Gaursons India Ltd.
Different chunks of land, m e a s u r i n g a ro u n d 4 0 , 0 0 0 square meters, relates to the revenue village of Dundahera near NH-24.
The chief secretary’s order said: “Under the questioned instances, the exchange of land were neither taken to board for clearance, nor permissions obtained from the state administration.”
Incumbent municipal commissioner Rakesh Kumar Singh told Hindustan Times that the exchange was undertaken as per procedure through the court of the sub divisional magistrate but there were violations in carrying out internal procedures related to the civic body.
“We have already filed a review at the SDM court regarding the 10 instances of land exchange to private developers and will seek further directions from the government,” the commissioner added.
Normally, the exchange of unreserved category of land is allowed after proper procedures in case such land causes hindrance to projects.
Complainant Rajendra Tyagi – a sitting municipal councillor – has also raised questions about the NOCs allegedly given by the former municipal commissioner just before his retirement in February.
“Not only the violation of procedure, the intent should also be probed and guilty must be booked as per law,” Tyagi added.
The developers, however, said they had followed proper procedures. “We have given a huge chunk of land in lieu of exchanged land and its value is exceptionally high. There is no procedural lapse from our end and our customers will not be affected. Presently, this land is used for utilities like road, sewage lines and electricity lines. There is no major housing construction over them,” s a i d S a n j e ev S r iv a s t av a , whole-time director, Crossing Infrastructure.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.
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