Sources said an earlier attempt to acquire this land during the NDA’s rule in the state was thwarted because of legalities involved — the land was leased to HARP in 1976.

As per Koda’s plan, the farm will be home to private bungalows on plots individually estimated at Rs 1 crore as per current market rates. “Since 115 sitting and ex-MLAs contributed Rs 75,000 each to the samiti three years ago, I told everybody to either allot land or return the money to them. The state Revenue Ministry selected this land,” Speaker Alam told The Indian Express.

In fact, records show that soon after Alam held a meeting with state government officials last month, on September 25, Secretary (Revenue) Vishnu Kumar sent a a letter to the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner directing him to start the paperwork for transferring the title of the land to the government.

That strings are being pulled is acknowledged openly. State Land Revenue Minister Dulal Bhuian told The Indian Express: “Considering the fact that at the centre it is our coalition (UPA) which is in power and even at the state level it is the same coalition that is in power, so, we expect that the proposal by the Jharkhand government for the piece of land will be accepted soon.”

Says society’s secretary, BJP MLA Chandreshwar Prasad Singh: “What’s wrong with the plan? The land we want is not being productively used. So the government needs to acquire 288 acres and give 88 acres to our society.”

... contd.