The Gujarat Housing Board’s move of giving away nine hectares of prime land in Ahmedabad’s affluent, Science City area, valued at approximately Rs 1,000 crore, to SAL company’s Adarsh Foundation for only Rs 36 lakh on a 99-year lease has drawn public scrutiny. The land was originally acquired from local farmers in 1974 for the purpose of brick kilns, the land’s current market worth far exceeds the sum received by the Housing Board, raising questions about the decision.
The board initially acquired the land from farmers in Bhadaj village, Daskroi taluka, on April 8, 1974. The land, divided across seven survey numbers, was intended for industrial use as a brick kiln facility. However, because this land is located opposite Science City, the value of the land increased to Rs 1,000 crores.
Despite this, the board transferred the land to Adarsh Foundation, owned by SAL’s Rajendra Shah, for only Rs 36 lakh—a decision which has now incited backlash from the heirs of the original landowners.
According to a report in Divya Bhaskar, the descendants of the farmers have expressed strong dissatisfaction, alleging that the board failed to use the land as promised and have instead granted a lucrative asset to a private entity for a nominal amount. The families are now preparing to take legal action to reclaim the land, asserting that they were misled regarding its intended use.
Ashish Patel, grandson of one of the original landowners, has been quoted saying, “This land belongs to our grandfather, who handed it over for brick kilns, not for private development. Decades later, we discover it has been leased out at a minimal rate. We are now requesting all related agreements and documents from the Housing Board and will use legal channels, if necessary, to take the matter up with senior officials, including the Chief Minister.”
The families have also filed a request through the Right to Information Act (RTI) to obtain documentation related to the lease and have pledged to challenge the decision if it was made without due process.
Gujarat Housing Board officials have declined to comment on the issue. After meeting with Housing Commissioner Vasava, he was directed to Deputy Housing Commissioner Dodia, who then referred him to another officer without providing any statement.
Also Read: PM Modi, US Prez Trump Pledge To Strengthen Bilateral Ties
