Sidhu demands JPC probe into Mohali land deals

Chandigarh, Jan 4 (UNI) BJP leader Navjot Sidhu today accused the Congress government in Punjab of causing a heavy loss of Rs 1.32 lakh crore to the state ex-chequer by selling off the farmers' land to private colonisers in Mohali and demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

''This is the scandal of the highest level ever in Punjab in which the bureaucrats are directly involved and, thus, I strongly demand an inquiry by a Joint Parliamentary Committee,'' Sidhu, who has been convicted in a murder case, said at a press conference here.

He said he would take up the matter with the BJP leadership so that a joint parliamentary probe into the alleged scam could be initiated.

Showing certain documents, including the photocopies of some land ownership registries in the name of builders at different prices, he said a loss of Rs 1.32 lakh crore has been assessed as per the land prices in 2003.

The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) had handed over Mohali's 38 new sectors, involving 12,000 acres of prime fertile land, to private developers after making various changes in the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority's master plan (GMADA), he said.

''The government's decision to gift away this major revenue potential raises suspicions, especially when the state has a debt burden of Rs 53,000 crore,'' he said.

Mr Sidhu said the role of PUDA was to provide plots or houses to the common people at affordable prices and not to ''act like a profit-making property dealing agency''.

He pointed out that the farmers had in the past proposed a land pooling, under which they offered their lands ''completely free of cost in lieu of 1125 square yards for residential and 121 sq. yards for commercial purposes for every acre to be developed. ''Had the state government agreed to implement this, PUDA could have earned a profit of at least Rs 50,000 crore, without making any investment or payment of any compensation.'' UNI