Gujarat assembly adjourned over land to Adani Group

Land allotted at the rate ranging between Rs 1 to Rs 32 per sq meter: Anandiben Patel

Ahmedabad-based business conglomerate Adani Group may have embarked on a makeover drive but controversies surrounding Adani Group refuse to die down. This could be gauged from the fact that Gujarat State Assembly was on Wednesday adjourned for the day following uproar created over land allotment to billionaire Gautam Adani-controlled Adani Group of companies. Even before adjourning the house for the day, the proceeding was halted thrice on Wednesday due to continuous disruption in the house over the land largesse issue.

In a reply to a question in the state assembly, the state revenue minister, Anandiben Patel informed the house that 54,656,819 square meters (approx. 13,505.9 acres) of land was given to Adani Group of companies at the rate ranging from Rs 1 to Rs 32 per square meter, which led to the uproar in the house. As per the government data, at the said rates, the total cost of the land works out to be around Rs 60.60 crore.

During the question hour, Congress member Chandu Dabhi asked a question seeking details of land given by government to Adani group and its price.

The leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil alleged state government of giving undue favour to Adani Group. Irked by Gohil's comment BJP MLAs in the house demanded withdrawal of such comments by the leader of opposition.

As members from both parties continued shouting slogans, the speaker adjourned the house till the end of question hour at 1 PM. However, the disruption continued even after the question hour and Ganpat Vasava, the speaker of the house adjourned the proceedings again till the recess, which ended at 3.15 PM.

When the house reassembled again after the recess, the normal business could not proceed as ruling party MLAs continued disruption demanding apologies from the leader of opposition for his remarks for the chief minister Narendra Modi.

This prompted speaker to adjourn the house for the third time during the day. However, looking at the continued uproar and disturbance, the speaker adjourned the house for the rest of the day.