MLA sends two letters in two days to Vadodara Collector over ‘corruption’ in revenue dept

In the letter on Friday, Patel stated, “In reply to my letter dated April 26, 2024, your office had stated that of the 1,370 revenue applications, 1,189 files had been rejected and only 158 files were cleared. It appears that either to indulge in corruption or to cause loss to the people because of their pessimistic thinking, the officers rejected 1,189 applications. So that the applicants and citizens receive justice in this matter, you should hold an open house to hear the grievances and resolve the issues based on evidence.”

On Thursday, Patel wrote to Shah and sought an inquiry into revenue records of lands that have been accorded the ‘non-agriculture’ approval in the last three years as well as decisions pertaining to the premiums in new lands, records of lands where a non-farmer was considered a farmer as well as government lands that have been allotted to individuals, and sought a report within seven days.

“I have received complaints from builders and common citizens and so I am drawing your attention to the matter. I have received complaints that senior officials of the District Collector’s office have handed over government lands to individuals in lieu of crores of rupees… It is requested that you must conduct an inquiry into the decisions made on applications for non-agriculture lands, premium lands as well as those lands where the non-farmer owners have been considered to be farmers. You must make public the names of such officers and they should be suitably prosecuted. I urge you to prepare this report within seven days and make it public,” he stated.

Patel met the District Collector on Saturday, and said that he had been assured that the open house will be conducted soon to resolve the issues over the rejected files. “The District Collector has assured that within a few days, they will conduct an open house and hear 50 applications in a day and resolve the issues that have caused the files to be rejected,” the Manjalpur MLA said.

In response to the letters, Vijay Shah said in a statement that Patel should “also look into” other grave matters concerning the city. “He (Yogesh Patel) is the senior most MLA in the city and there are many issues related to Vadodara that could be raised with his help. We have made several representations about issues in the city through the elected wing, our party and at every opportunity we have had. One such issue is that of the Vishwamitri river. It is our request that (Yogesh Patel) should also take up these matters concerning the city,” the BJP city unit president said.

While the District Collector said that the inquiry sought by Patel could not be conducted within seven days, he added that the senior MLA’s letter would be considered. “The honorable MLA has sought that the documents of the last three years should be examined to see if there has been any wrongdoing in the decision-making… We are examining the documents and if there is any anomaly found, we will take action. We cannot comment about the contentions (made by the MLA) without examining the case … Seven days’ time is not enough. It will take more time. I cannot comment on the files that have been rejected. If files have been rejected, they are on the record… We are under no (political) pressure,” Shah said.

On Saturday, Savli MLA and BJP leader Ketan Inamdar backed Patel and said that officers, who have been involved in approving applications of bogus farmers should be booked in FIRs. Inamdar said. “The maximum suffering is endured by widowed land owners, who remain oblivious when their lands are transferred to other individuals by conniving officers. Not only should these officers minting money in crores be exposed, but they should also be booked under FIRs,” he said.