Embarrassment for Gujarat Govt

GNN | Feb 01, 2020, 11:57 AM IST|

• Admits error in giving forest area land for mining

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Government on Friday (January 31) accepted before the Gujarat High Court that it had erroneously allotted forest land to a relative of BJP leader Babubhai Bokhiria for mining. This hugely embarrassing acceptance of the Gujarat Government came in a reply to a Public Interest Litigation.
GNN learns, in its affidavit, the Gujarat Government stated that the mistake was committed while measuring the land. The intention was to allot the beneficiary land some 3-km away from the current location.
The government also submitted before the high court that it wishes to rectify its mistake. The government also assured the court that if would hear the objection before the village panchayat afresh.
The high court has granted both the forest secretary and the revenue secretary in the Gujarat government a week’s time to file a fresh affidavit, containing the required clarifications. In the said affidavit, the revenue department will have to specify which survey number was to be allotted initially, and which survey number was eventually allotted to the beneficiary, who happens to be the relative of Babubhai.