Yogi gets tough on Greater Noida land purchases

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has taken a tough stance in the issue of land irregularities in the Greater Noida and the Yamuna Expressway areas. Chairman of both authorities, Prabhat Kumar, has asked officials to finish investigation in this regard and submit a report to the state government at the earliest.

Talking to DNA, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) Chairman Kumar confirmed that a probe has been ordered regarding land irregularities that took place during the earlier regimes in the state.

"I have directed the Additional CEO-level officer to investigate alleged irregularities and submit a report in the matter by May 30," Kumar said.

When queried further, he said: "There is no vendetta against any individual or government. Farmers had complained of land irregularities. So, we have not fixed any particular period."

It is pertinent to mention that both the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) governments in the state have been accused of large-scale land irregularities. The BSP has been accused of allotting land parcels to private players, while the SP regime has been accused of a multi-crore land lease scam by the Opposition and the farmers. Some farmers have already knocked the doors of courts to reclaim their land.

"Over 900 acres of land was bought directly from farmers at low rates and sold to YEIDA at higher rates. It is a scam to benefit some individuals. We have already approached court to get justice in the matter. We hope that the Yogi government will put the accused behind the bars," Teekam Singh, a farmer from Gautambudh Nagar, said. In another suspected scam, Rs 65 crore was spent to purchase land for a power house in an area that has no habitation nearby.

The UP government officers said these land parcels are located near the proposed Jewar airport site, and in Mathura and Bulandshahr.

Kumar has directed officials to verify the farmers' allegations and examine all details, including who made the proposal to purchase the land, and other persons involved, especially the suspected beneficiaries.

The officers said if anybody is found guilty of misusing government machinery and public fund, stringent action will be taken against them. "We have received some more complaints of irregularities in land purchasing. We have formed teams to examine these complaints and will submit our report ahead of the deadline," YEIDA CEO Arunveer Singh said.