Gujarat government today dismissed as "false and politically motivated" the allegations of "favouritism" in allotting land five years back to a private firm, which allegedly has close business links with Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's daughter Anar Patel, saying all rules were complied with.
In a statement issued here tonight, the government said the tract of land was "allotted as per rules and regulations and according to prevailing policies and procedures set by the state government".
"No favour was done to any individual or company in this regard," it added.
The government clarified that state cabinet, headed by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, approved allotment of 9.95 lakh sqm of land at a final valuation of Rs 1.67 crore in its meeting dated July 21, 2010 after the proposal to this effect was put before the council of ministers following due procedure in 2008 and 2009.
The allotment of land to the company has kicked up a political storm with Congress demanding setting up of a Supreme Court-monitored SIT to go into all allotments of government land during the tenure of Modi as CM.
In 2010, Gujarat government is believed to have allotted 250 acres of land next to Gir Lion Sanctuary to Wildwoods Resorts and Realties Pvt Ltd for setting up a resort which was allotted at a price of Rs 15 per square metre or Rs 60,000 per acre.
The statement said that Anar did not hold any equity in any of the companies named in the controversy and that she was not a director in any of these companies.
"Thus to associate Anar Patel or any other family member of CM is completely false and baseless as well as politically motivated."
The statement detailed facts and the sequence of events while seeking to rebut allegations of nepotism.
"An MoU was signed between the company in question, Wildwoods Resorts and Realties (WWR) and the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) for developing a wildlife resort in Dhari taluka of Amreli district near Gir lion sanctuary at an investment of Rs 80 crore.
"A recommendation was made by the Collector to allot land to the company in 2008 and the Forest Department accorded its NoC on December 14, 2009, for the resort to come up at Patla village in Amreli district."
It said the proposal was put before the state cabinet after due procedure.
"The cabinet (headed by then chief minister Narendra Modi) approved the allotment of 9.95 lakh sq mtrs land at a final valuation of Rs 1.67 crore in its meeting dated July 21, 2010," the statement said.
"WWR had privately acquired different 16 parcels of (land)
near village Patla, measuring approximate 180 acres adjoining private land, in 2009 after obtaining permission from the state government on December 1, 2008," it stated.
According to government, the allotment was done for a legitimate purpose of establishing the tourist resort after obtaining due clearance.
The government further stated that since it came out with a GR (Government Resolution), dated July 1, 2015, prohibiting construction of resorts within 1 km of specified areas like Gir Sanctuary, "any bid to construct resort in eco-sensitive zone like Gir Sanctuary had to abide by the laid norms".
"It has to be kept in mind that the land in question has not been spared or taken out of the proposed eco-sensitive zone and the resort. The government resolution...May affect the land in question. Since no resort has been constructed till now, any revised plan of construction will have to abide by the prevailing norms related to eco-sensitive zone as well as the rules of Forest and Revenue Departments," it stated.
The government clarified that Anar Patel did not hold any equity in WWR, Parshwa Texchem and Anil Infra Plus.
"WWR, incorporated in 2008, was promoted by Sanjay Dhanak and Sudhir Ved. Later, in 2009, Ved exited and Harshad Mehta and his wife Naina Mehta replaced him," it stated.
As per the statement, the application for land allocation and the land allocation by the government and private purchase of the land was done between 2008 and 2010.
"Afterwards, between April 2011 and September 2012, shares belonging to the Mehtas and Dhanak were purchased by Parshwa Texchem, promoted by Dakshesh Shah, and Anil Infra Plus, promoted by Amol Shah.
"These transactions have occurred after the land was allotted and permission of establishing the resort was given," it added.
Former state unit Congress president Arjun Modhwadia had yesterday alleged that, "245.62 acres of government-own land worth Rs 122 crore in Patla village in Dhari taluka of Amreli district (near Gir sanctuary) was alloted to one Wildwoods Resort and Realities Pvt Ltd in 2010 when Narendra Modi was CM and Patel the Revenue Minister in Gujarat".
For her part, Anar Patel has already rubbished the Congress's allegations in her Facebook post.
"Indeed, Daksheshbhai (Dakshesh Shah) is my business partner but that doesn't mean that I am there in all his companies. He is a self-made businessman and is in business since last 22 years," she wrote.
"We started a company named "Anar Projects" seven years back with business interest in retails and services. We never took any favour from any government organisation. We strictly followed all rules and regulations in all manners," she said.
