Gandhinagar, 16 July, 2014

Some of the interesting details coming out from the question hour and debates of ongoing session of the Gujarat assembly:

Non-starter Metro swallows Rs. 587.52 crore!

–Gujarat government has so far spent Rs. 587.52 crore for Ahmedabad Metro rain project. This detail was shared by Urban development department in reply to Thasra MLA Ramsinh Parmar. A detailed project report for phase-1 of project has been resent to central government in accordance with its provisions. Congress has raised question on spending of such a big amount without even construction of single inch. It should be mentioned that the earlier detailed project report was sent to Delhi for centre’s assistance but it was rejected as it was not as per the criteria fixed by centre for assistance. So far only soil testing activities are done in connection with the project. Government had appointed former bureaucrat Sanjay Gupta as CEO of the project, but he stepped down reportedly on government’s direction a few months back. While other cities were laying Metro lines, the Gujarat government through civic bodies focused on cheaper Bus Rapid Transit System(BRTS). The draw back of BRTS is that it occupies lot of surface of existing roads and therefore burdens the traffic on some stretch, while Metro functions on pillared elevated corridors and in underground tunnels, and leaves existing road surface for regular traffic.

Vibrancy of investment

–Out of total 17,719 intentions for investment during Gujarat government’s Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2013, 1491 projects (which is 8.42% of total projects) are dropped. 10,176 projects are under implementation or operational. The government however didn’t clear the status of over 6,000 intentions of investment. This detail was shared by Industry department of government of Gujarat in reply to Congress MLA of Sidhpur.

Centre’s grant for police stayed unused

–Due to administrative reasons, Rs. 65 crore grant received from central government for police remained unused in two years ending at May 2014. The state received Rs. 12.99 crore in 2012-13 and Rs. 76.32 crore in 2013-14 grant against which it spent Rs. 8.28 crore in first year and Rs. 16.10 crore in second year. These details were shared by department of Home, government of Gujarat in the Gujarat assembly in reply to Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar.

Government land encroached, no action!

–Shah alloys has encroached 15 vigha water body of government while Radhe buildrs has illegally got hold of agriculture land. This detail was shared in the assembly by Congress MLA Baldevji Thakor. He said while others are locked in jail under PASA for encroachment over government land, these two builders stay untouched even after several complains before concerned department. The MLA allged that Radhe builder has taken hold of 3 lakh sqm land which is owned by farmers as per the 7/12 utara. Builder has built 50 houses and club house and has started selling plots when the land has not been declared non-agricultural. The MLA further said that the land belonging to 67 villages close to Thol sanctuary is not suitable to get NA. He said it is sad to note that IAS and IPS officers use club-house of this scheme. MLA alleged involvement of IPS officers in forceful land purchase from farmers in rural Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

–Congress MLA from Sanand Karamshi Patel alleged in the assembly that land mafias had encroached government land illegally around Sanand. Karamshibhai shared details with survey and plot numbers. Finance Minister Nitin Patel assured actions against encroachment over government land in response. Some of the details Congress MLA shared were: Kunvar village survey number 714 , Upardal village survey number 423, Matoda-Sarkhej-Bavla road, Chacharvali Vasna survey 247 water body was filled with sand and encroached. Survey number 118, 217, 286, 713, 776, 946. Nani Devti survey number 177, Modasar 1218, 1220, 1254, 1312, 1571, 1247. Kalana 321, 88, 86, 85, 65, 67, 68, 315, 323. Kolat 712. Godhavi Gauchar 200 vigha. Most of the encroachment is commercial, especially by builders.