A probe by the lokayukt Retd Justice NK Mehrotra pointed towards an organised `syndicate’ between land mafias and builders with the revenue officials, causing state exchequer several thousand crores of rupees every year.
The gang capitalised by making land use changes at their will. Mehrotra, who unearthed first of such operations in Mathura on Wednesday, had asked the state government to make a review of land use changes in the state and penalised the authorities besides initiating action against the officials. He also get a case registered in the Mathura incident against one of senior officer of Provincial Civil Services (PCS) posted as SDM. He claimed that action will be also taken other officials who connived with the builders and land sharks.
Interestingly, the local district magistrate in-order to hush up the matter had ordered transfer of SDM and suspended the local lekhpal. However, he failed in his efforts after lokayukt personally went to Mathura to examine the truth.
Confirming of action against SDM Mathura, Ramesh Chandra, and suspension of lekhpal, Sapan Bhardwaj, here on Thursday afternoon, lokayukt, NK Mehrortra, who visited Mathura to examine the facts on Wednesday, claimed that he got application that one builder, Surya Constructions had purchased five huge plots at Chathi Kara hamlet of Tehra Mauja in Mathura and get the land used change from agriculture land to construct multi-storyed complexes in 2008. He claimed that the company utilised two of the plots and sold remaining three to another builder `Delux Constructions’ at present rates but before registry of the plot, they again get the land used changed to agriculture to save stamp duty, thus resulting into loss of over one crore to state exchequer.
Mehrotra, claimed that during probe, he found that the land use change has been made by SDM, Ramesh Chandra, who he had no power to do so. He disclosed that Ramesh Chandra, took a review application from the builder for land use change and later illegally get a report from lekhpal, Sapan, who showed that the said land has been used for agriculture purpose and that he found yellow mustard crop there. lokayukt said that the local Tehsildar made a review of such lands every year and made entry into their records about the purpose of such lands so he also checked the records, and was shocked to see that in his (Tehsildar) record, the land was not shown used for agriculture purposes. Not only this, even when a report in this record should be submitted by a tehsildar, the SDM got it with lekhpul and also made land use change showing it as agriculture land. Following this, he get a case registered in the matter and ordered action against the said officials.
Mehrotra further said that he also sent a report to State government asking them to review all such land uses by the Revenue Department, who were suppose to make such exercise every year but had presently seems to have kept their eyes closed. He also claimed that such misuse of land use is causing a loss of thousands of crores to state chequer in form of revenue stamp so it must be checked and necessary action should be taken against the guilty.