Corporatocracy in Gujarat

Earlier this year, Gujarat Congress had submitted to the Governor Dr Kamla and the president a detailed list of '17 scams' that had allegedly taken place under the Modi government. It demanded probe by an independent agency. Last week, when it was getting apparent that a Lok Ayukta for the state was close, the state government set up an enquiry commission to be headed by retired Justice MB Shah. The following is the list of alleged scams submitted by the Congress to the Gujarat governor and the president: 

Land for Nano plant at low rate 
The state government allotted 1100 acres of land to Tata Motors Ltd (TML) to set up the Nano plant near Sanand. The land was allotted allegedly at Rs900 per square metre while its market rate was around Rs10,000 per square metre. Simply put, the government gave Tata Motors total monetary benefit of Rs33,000 crore. 

Land sold cheap to Adani Group 
Land was allotted to Adani Group for the Mundra Port & Mundra Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Re1 per square metre. This is grossly lower than the market rate. 

Cheap land for ind, not for airforce 
The Gujarat government allotted 3,76,561 square metre of land to real estate developer K Raheja at Rs470 per square metre, while the South-West Air Command (SWAC) was asked to pay Rs1100 per square metre for 4,04,700 square metre land. 

Agricultuure University land allotted for hotel 
State government allotted 65,000 square metres of land belonging to Navsari Agriculture University in Surat to Chatrala Indian Hotel Group for a hotel project despite objection from the institute. This deal was allegedly brokered by the chief minister through his office causing a loss of Rs426 crore. 

Border land for chemical firms 
A huge plot of land near the Pakistan border was allotted to salt chemical companies said to be close to BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu. 

Essar Group's encroachment 
State government has allotted 2.08 lakh square metres of land to Essar Steel. Part of the disputed land is CRZ and forest land that cannot be allotted as per Supreme Court guidelines. 

Land given to Bharat Hotel 
Prime land was allotted to Bharat Hotels without auction on Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway in Ahmedabad. The company has been allotted 25,724 square metre land. 

Corruption in allotment of lakes 
State government, in 2008, awarded contracts for fishing activities in 38 lakes without inviting any tenders; bidders were ready to pay Rs25 lakh per lake. 

Land given to L&T 
Larson & Toubro (L&T) was allotted 80 hectare land at Hazira at the rate of Re1 per square metre. 

Land allotted to other industries 
Instead of auctioning prime land in the major cities of the state, the Gujarat government had allotted the land to some industries and industrialists who had signed MoUs in the five editions of VGGIS. 

Cattle feed fraud 
The Gujarat government had purchased cattle feed from a blacklisted company at Rs240 per 5 kg whereas the market rate is just Rs120 to Rs140 per 5 kg. 

Scam in Anganwadi centres 
Two bidders apparently formed a cartel and bid for supplying supplementary Nutrition Extruded Fortified Blended Food (EFBF) to Anganwadi centres of the state. One company bid for three zones, while the other for only two. Guidelines were violated, causing the state exchequer a loss of Rs92 crore. 

GSPC 
Despite an investment of Rs4933.50 crore, GSPC has been able to earn only Rs290 crore from the 13 out of 51 blocks of oil and gas discovered by the company. Contractual relations of Geo-Global and GSPC deserve investigation since Geo-Global is to be hired for a higher fee, above profit-sharing. 

Luxury aircraft used by CM 
Instead of using commercial flights or state-owned aircraft and helicopter, chief minister Narendra Modi had used private luxury aircraft for around 200 trips in five years. The cost had been borne by the beneficiary industries.