District Collector Anil Mukim has ordered a survey of part of a 10 acre-plot of land on Harni Road, where 61 shops have come up since it was sold to the Lok Sevak Mandal for a pittance in 1983. Official objections have also been raised to a private bungalow and a prayer hall that doubles up as a wedding hall.

According to sources in the city's survey and mamlatdar offices, officials had objected to the ``breach of conditions'' of the Indian Revenue Code, 1879 -- governing the allotment of land for charitable purposes and exempting the owner from revenue tax -- ever since the suspect constructions started coming up on 2,133 sq m of land. The hall is allegedly rented out for weddings, while the shops were sold at open market rates.

The rest of the land, however, is occupied by the Lal Bahadur Shastri Higher Secondary School, an ashram for the elderly, a hostel for mentally disabled women and the Balwant Rai Naturopathy Kendra.

An earlier notice issued to Patel asked him to regularise the shops by paying Rs 10 lakhs for 2,133 sq m plot on the basis of 1986 market rates. However, the former MP reportedly insisted on paying for only 924 sq m. The survey report, expected to be published within a fortnight, is expected to settle the issue conclusively.

While Mukim told Express Newsline that the report would be conclusive, Patel, who called on the collector on Tuesday, said he would accept the results. ``As far as I know, the shops occupy 924 sq m of land, not 2,133 sq m. If the survey says the second figure is right, I'll go by it'', he said.

Mandal secretary Chimanbhai Patel also told Express Newsline that though they could buy the charges about the shops, the allegation about the commercial use of the prayer hall was baseless.