Govt hits back at Kejriwal, calls it an attempt to gain ‘cheap publicity’

Calling it nothing but an attempt to gain "cheap publicity", the Haryana government on Thursday refuted all allegations levelled by activist Arvind Kejriwal regarding the alleged nexus between real estate giant DLF and the state government.

"The allegations of extending any favours to DLF Limited by Haryana government are nothing but half truths, insinuations, innuendos and patent mis-statements run through these overt and covert attacks on the Congress government," said Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Speaking about the transfer of 350 acres of land at Wazirabad village in Gurgaon to DLF, Surjewala said: "During the foreign visit of a delegation led by former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, the issue of setting up of a leisure and business centre as conceptualised. In 2003, HSIIDC approved a proposal to develop a 18-hole golf course, conventional facilities and entertainment, leisure and housing project. The same year, HUDA decided to transfer the land acquired by it for residential purposes to HSIIDC for leisure-cum-recreational project as directed by Chautala on June 20, 2003."

He added that in 2003-04, notifications under Sections 4 and 6 were issued by the HSIIDC for 278 acres, 1 kanal, 10 marlas for setting up of recreational-cum-leisure project over the land. The same year, HSIIDC appointed PGA Design Consultant for undertaking the project and moved Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for necessary clearances.

"In 2004, HSIIDC resolved that clearances from Union MoEF and Ministry of Defence, as well as from state forests department and other authorities for this project will be taken by HSIIDC," said Surjewala.

He added: "The Congress government merely granted permission to a project, which had already been conceptualised and conceived during the previous government. International competitive bidding process was followed. Three companies submitted bids, however, two — Consortium of Country Height, Malaysia and Consortium of Unitech Limited — could not fulfill certain parameters and their bids were never opened. DLF Limited was found eligible and their financial bid opened. The project was accordingly awarded to it."

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