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Sunday, Nov 05, 2006
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Raid on Gujarat Infocity

Manas Dasgupta

"For violating development control regulations"

GANDHINAGAR: Police raided Gujarat's first Information Technology park, Infocity, here on Saturday and sealed several shops allegedly violating guidelines.

The raid was carried out jointly by the police and the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA). At least 56 shops and other business establishments, including a branch of a nationalised bank and a private college, were affected.

The sprawling complex is being developed in the joint sector by a non-resident Indian owned U.S.-based company, Creative Choices, and the State Government-promoted Gujarat Informatics Limited.

A GUDA spokesman said the shops sealed were "illegal" and leased out in violation of the GUDA's "general development control regulations" and against the agreement signed by the Government with the private promoter.

The premises where a bank branch was functioning had not even obtained the mandatory "building use" permission.

Charges contested

The charges were contested by the private promoter who said the agreement provided for an allocation of 1.4 lakh square metres land for non-IT commercial activities for setting up shops and other business establishments as well as for parks, schools, colleges, hospitals and such other basic amenities required for the staff working and living in the Infocity.

He denied that the commercial establishments set up so far had exceeded the agreed quota though there could had been changes in the allotment areas from what was shown in the original map.

The GUDA had issued notices in June. The shop owners approached the Gandhinagar civil court which issued a stay against sealing till November 2. But as soon as it was vacated, the GUDA raided the premises and sealed the "illegal establishments" though the next hearing is due on November 15.

The raid surprised the State's information technology circles because it was carried out within days of the State Government declaring a new five-year IT policy.

Cleared by Minister

The raid was reportedly cleared by Urban Development Minister I. K. Jadeja, a close associate of Mr. Modi.

Secretariat sources did not rule out the possibility of a political reason behind the raids, pointing out that the agreement between the State Government and the U.S.-based NRI promoter was signed during the reign of Mr. Modi's arch rival, Keshubhai Patel.

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