PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Uttarakhand Congress again raised the issue of what it alleges, a meha land scam patronised by the State government through the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB). On Wednesday, which happened to be the birthday of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the party organised press conferences in every district of the State on the issue.
Addressing the media in Dehradun, the Mahanagar Congress president Jaswinder Singh Gogi claimed the State BJP government will soon auction three Dak Bunglows of Public Works Department (PED) located at Duggal Bittha, Fata and Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district at throwaway prices. He said that the State government is planning to transfer thousands of acres of land and properties to private owners for 90 years. Gogi said that the UIIDB has invited tenders for construction of a premium resort on 14 acres of land at Patuwa Dangar in Nainital, conversion of Alaknanda Hotel in Haridwar and Dak Bunglow of PWD in Rishikesh.
General secretary (organisation) Rajendra Bhandari claimed that CM Dhami has already signed and approved proposals to give 1,200 acres of government department land to the UIIDB.
State spokesperson Pratima Singh alleged that in addition to land, the government has also taken an in-principle decision to lease 25 inspection bunglows of PWD and some hotels of the Tourism department to private hands.
Earlier in 2023, the BJP government had leased approximately 142 acres of government land worth Rs 30,000 crore at Park Estate (Hathipaon) in Mussoorie to “Rajas Aero Sports and Adventure Private Limited” for 15 years at a rate of only Rs one crore per year.
The Congress leaders averred that the party will not allow the State government to sell the precious land of the State.
