Massive corruption in allotment of land plots by Gujarat govt.: Congress

Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil accused the State BJP government of massive corruption and irregularities in the allotment of land plots by the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation in Dahej and Saykha industrial zones.

Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil on June 16 accused the State BJP government of massive corruption and irregularities in the allotment of land plots by the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) in Dahej and Saykha industrial zones.

In a press conference on Sunday, Mr. Gohil, sharing government documents, said that the GIDC — the nodal agency for the industrial development in the State — is allotting lands at a subsidised rate of ₹2,845 per square metre in Dahej instead of holding auction which can fetch up to ₹10,000 per square metre.

“Dahej is a highly developed zone with all the infrastructure and other facilities. Two years ago, Asian Paints had purchased lands at ₹7,000 per square metre plus transfer fees, stamp duty and other expenses. But GIDC is now allotting lands at mere ₹2,845 per square metre, thus causing massive revenue loss to the public treasury,” Mr. Gohil said.

“The GIDC has already made allotment of more than five lakh square metres plots at ₹2,845 per square metre and it is planning to allot nearly two million or 20 lakh square meters lands in Dahej and Saykha at the same rate,” he said, suggesting revenue loss of more than ₹1,500 crore to the State treasury. 

According to him, in April 2023, GIDC had invited applications from those seeking land plots ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 square metre in the chemical zone in Dahej. It had received a tremendous response from the participants. Then all applications were rejected in July 2023 and Dahej and Saykha GIDC estates were declared ‘saturated’ zones where plots can only be auctioned. A Government Resolution (GR) was brought out declaring the zones as saturated. 

“Suddenly in February 2024, the GIDC board reversed its earlier stand and another GR was brought out declaring both zones as unsaturated, where the allotment can be done based on applications without auction. This U-turn by the GIDC board which functions under the industries department smacks of corruption,” Mr Gohil said, sharing with media persons copies of both GRs. 

“Besides the GIDC management, industries department, who else are involved in the scam? By not auctioning the land plots, the GIDC officials are causing massive loss of revenues to the state treasury,” he added.