Congress Alleges Dhami Government Plans to Hand ₹1 Lakh Crore in State Land to Private Firms; Government Denies Sale
Opposition leader Yashpal Arya launched a 'Dhami Hatao, Bhoomi Bachao' campaign in Nainital, alleging the government is preparing to transfer government land worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore to private entities on long leases, citing a disputed hotel plot at Patwadangar; the state government says land ownership will remain with it.
Current Summary
Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya launched the Congress's 'Dhami Hatao, Bhoomi Bachao' campaign at Patwadangar in Nainital district on November 4, alleging that government properties worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore across Uttarakhand are being prepared for transfer to private entities on leases of 60 to 90 years. Arya questioned how the Patwadangar land parcel could be allotted for a hotel project when its measurement has not been completed and ownership is not clearly established in official records, claiming the land has at different times been described as belonging to the Biotechnology University, the Agriculture and Horticulture Department, and the Biotechnology Council. Congress workers symbolically tied protective threads and pledged to safeguard public assets at the event. Responding the same day in Dehradun, Principal Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram said the government's Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB) initiative aims to productively use selected land parcels for employment and investment, not indiscriminate sale, and that several unrelated land parcels were being wrongly linked to the proposal. Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal separately said ownership of all land earmarked for investment projects would remain 100 percent with the state government, with private entities granted only limited development and operation rights subject to conditions, and that the initiative could attract Rs 1,500-2,000 crore in hospitality investment and generate more than 15,000 jobs, besides Rs 200-250 crore in additional annual revenue.
What We Know
- Congress alleges nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in state land is being prepared for 60-90 year private leases
- Yashpal Arya cited the Patwadangar land parcel, saying its ownership and measurement are unresolved
- Government says UIIDB land remains state-owned, with private players getting only limited development rights
- Cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal projected Rs 1,500-2,000 crore investment and 15,000-plus jobs from the hospitality push
What Is Still Unclear
- Final, verified ownership record of the Patwadangar parcel
- Which specific land parcels are actually included in the UIIDB monetisation plan
What Changed
- 6 Nov, 08:12 pmSignal detected: Congress Alleges Dhami Government Plans to Hand ₹1 Lakh Crore in State Land to Private Firms; Government Denies Sale