Continuing their protest Vadodara City Congress on Thursday once again raised the issue of irregularities in the name of afforestation on the plots allotted by the Corporation. They handed over an application to the Mayor requesting him to take back the plots. Mayor Keyur Rokadia decided to take back the disputed 46 plots.
The green belt plots were allotted by the VMC to organizations for afforestation and other social activities. However, it sparked allegations of illegal construction and commercial use.
Congress had taken up the issue and had run a campaign to highlight the irregularities on the plots. On Thursday they handed over saplings to Mayor in a unique protest to raise the issue once again. Congress protested against the allotment of crores of rupees of corporation land to private and political persons in the name of green belt afforestation and demanded an investigation for corruption in old plots and possession of all plots by the corporation.
Mayor Keyur Rokadia declared to take back the possession of plots by the Corporation. He said that on the basis of the 1991 resolution, VMC allotted 46 plots of green and open space to various organizations and citizens for different purposes. In some of these plots, no activity was going on while in some plots garden was developed while in other plots tree planting was done. After the controversy, a survey was carried out by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and 4 plots were withdrawn after giving notice to 20 plots along with the earlier four plots earlier.
Mayor said that the corporation will take back all the 46 plots and carry out activities including tree planting. He also thanked the organizations and people who have done a good job on the plot so far.
The opposition welcomed the decision and ensured to keep a watch on them. “It’s the victory of citizens and environment as the plots are now being used for the purpose it was given. The plots now will be used for Green Belt development and it will benefit everyone in coming days,” said Ami Rawat Leader of Opposition.
Congress later burst crackers and celebrated the decision.
