In an utter disregard for environment and case of alleged brazen corruption and nepotism, a lake in Ghaziabad, spread over 300 acre, was filled with solid waste and converted into a park only to be made a banquet hall later on.
In a alleged bid to award a contract to the kin of the then lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma and one Sikandar Yadav, a BSP leader, the Arthala lake which was spread over 300 acre in 1995, was reduced to only 35,000 square metre and filled with solid waste on which a park was developed and leased to influential politicians at the throw away price.
The lease holders later on allegedly converted the park into a banquet hall and reduced lake to a pond with mud and garbage flowing into it from neighboring localities.
Revealing the sordid state of affairs, BJP's party leader in the municipal corporation, councilor Rajendra Tyagi alleged that on the recommendation of the then lok-Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, Mulayam Singh Yadav, the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh allocated the park and lake to Jayant Sangma, the son of PA Sangma and Sikandar Yadav to run it on the BOT basis for 25+2 years in 2006.
Recounting the irregularities, Tyagi told media persons that on the direct orders from the lucknow, then Municipal Commissioner Vijay Kumar Yadav, formalised the proceedings and handed over the lake and park to Prachar Advertising company of Sikandar Yadav and James Sangma on the annual rent of Rs 6 lakh to the corporation in 2006.
The allotment was made with certain restrictions that the natural structure would not be changed and the temporary structure would not be made more than 5 per cent of the total property including lake and park. Other conditions included the 10,000 tree plantation, a small zoo for children after obtaining permission from the Forest Department, a small canteen, high mask lights, musical fountain, garders and security guards fending to maintain park, toilets, clean drinking water, open theatre and a unipole. The most important condition was to invest of Rs 264 crore on the above mentioned development of park and bank of lake.
During first initial two years, the municipal corporation would not charge rent from them. But after the inspection the installation the rent would be charged.
The councilor Rajendra Tyagi, Goga Sharma and Himanshu Mittal (all from BJP) collective alleged that none of the conditions were fulfilled by the lease holders. The lake was reduced, park was ransacked and four banquet halls were erected in violation of rules, four restaurants came up and after entering on paid entry ticker of Rs 10 and paying Rs. 15 for car parking, the original shape was totally changed in to commercial.