But official documents obtained by The Indian Express under the RTI Act reveal that the state administration has already done the spadework to settle the title of HARP’s land in favour of its scheme.

The Ranchi Additional Collector’s March 1 letter to the South Chotanagpur Divisional Commissioner’s secretary says: “In subject related with the above, it is to state that the proposal prepared and approved by the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner for transfer of land to Vidhayak Evam Sansad Grih Nirman Swalambhi Sahkari Samiti Ltd is being forwarded.”

Earlier, the Samiti’s chief executive, C P Singh, an MLA of the Opposition BJP, had dispatched a letter to the Assembly Secretary on February 5 requesting him to get land for the MLAs and MPs. On February 22, Circle Officer, Namkom block, under whose jurisdiction HARP land falls, received a file with request to transfer the title of this land on lease to the Samiti.

The additional collector also prepared a file related to the status of the HARP’s land on February 27. The file, based on a report submitted to him by the Circle Officer of Namkom, states this: “During the course of site inspection, it was found that the land is protected by barbed wire. It is under possession of HARP. The proposal to settle the land (to the Samiti) on a lease basis for 30 years is prepared.”

In all 585.63 acres was provided to HARP in 1976. Later, “the statement proposal number 1RVIII 1981-82 to transfer it was sent to the state Government as per the legal procedure. But the Bihar Government’s order approving this proposal was not received,” states the AC’s letter.

Subsequently, state Secretary (Revenue) Vishnu Kumar in his September 25 letter to the Ranchi DC stated that 285.63 acres of land “where HARP had not undertaken any work and was in its possession” be acquired.

“Prepare a map of this land and send it. Also, make available plot-wise details and a separate map of 85 acres of this land so that it can be allotted for the MLA and MP housing scheme,” ordered Kumar.

While Ranchi DC Avinash Kumar is learnt to be in the process to honour Secretary Kumar’s order, HARP’s Principal Scientist Shivendra Kumar on Saturday countered these officers’ contention.

“We do not have any land where there was no plant or nursery,” said Kumar.

Asked why the Government order pertaining to the transfer of the land which was handed over to HARP by the erstwhile Bihar Government in 1976, was not notified till date, Kumar replied that HARP was not responsible for it. “During the past 30 years, we had written dozens of letters requesting the officers concerned of the Bihar and Jharkhand Government to do the needful, but in vain. Now, instead of rectifying their lapse, they were out to grab our land,” said Kumar.

When The Indian Express approached the CM for his reaction on Kumar’s assertion, Koda said he would look into HARP’s case. “We will send a team of officials to take stock of the land afresh,” he said.