The Hindu : National : Ex-chief of UPSIDC suspended in land scam

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Friday, Nov 16, 2007
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National

Ex-chief of UPSIDC suspended in land scam

Special Correspondent

For alleged irregularities in plots allotment at Tronica City

LUCKNOW: The State Government has suspended the former Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation, Balvinder Kumar, for alleged irregularities in allotment of plots at Tronica City in Ghaziabad.

Informed sources said the action against the senior bureaucrat pertained to under-pricing of about 440 plots in Tronica City. These plots were allotted to the buyers at the old rate of Rs. 3,150 per square metre in September this year as against the current market rate of Rs.5,000 per square metre.

Loss to exchequer

Sources said it caused a loss of Rs.17 crore to the exchequer.

On Tuesday, the Government had transferred the Project Officer of Tronica City and Executive Engineer Sanjay Tiwari.

At the time of his suspension he was the Principal Secretary, Science and Technology.

Incidentally, it was Mr. Kumar on being appointed the MD of the Corporation immediately after Ms. Mayawati assumed charge as the Chief Minister in May 2007 who had exposed the scandal amounting to about Rs.400 crore relating to the allotment of plots in Tronica City during the Samajwadi Party rule in 2006.

The scam allegedly involved a former Chief Engineer of the Corporation, Arun Mishra, and four other engineers. When Mr. Kumar became the MD in May this year, he held a press conference to expose the scandal. The former Chief Engineer and the other engineers were subsequently suspended by him.

Though Mr. Kumar was transferred after some time, the case was handed over to the newly-constituted Special Investigation Team. The Tronica City scam and the food scandal were the first cases to be handed over to SIT.

After his suspension, the former Chief Engineer was attached to the Panchayati Raj Minister and Chairman of UPSIDC, Babu Singh Kushwaha.

A loyal BSP worker, Mr. Kushwaha is a close confidant of the Chief Minister.

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