The Chak Ganjaria Farmland project has now landed in Supreme Court. A local NGO ‘We The People’, which is opposing the State Government’s move to develop a hi-tech/IT City and other institutes on the farm land, has filed a Special Leave Petition before the apex court accusing principal secretary, housing, Sadakant of perjury.
“The affidavit filed by principal secretary contains information which is false and contradicts the state government’s own contention on the issue. Hence, we have moved an application for perjury under section 343 of criminal procedure code against the officer and challenged the May 13, of the Allahabad high court vacating the stay on the project,” said Prince Lenin, the advocate for the NGO.
Spread over 992 acres, the Chak Ganjaria Farm belongs to the State Animal Husbandry Department, which along with its existing infrastructure and paraphernalia on the venue
was to be relocated at another alternative site. However, on a PIL filed by the NGO, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad high court had stayed the move. The stay order was later vacated by the high court on May 13.
The petitioners are opposing the transfer of Chak Ganjaria Farm land to other departments saying that it is a natural habitation of protected species, such as Peacock, Deer, Jackal, Parrots, Owls and Sparrow etc. They have raised environmental concern also stating that the move would entail destruction of trees and displacement of animals and birds. They have said that the farmland is part of a forest, a claim, which has been denied by the State Government. Principal Secretary Sadakant, who has filed a sworn statement before the high court, stated that the land in question was neither part of a forest nor was it being acquired. It is merely a case of transfer of government farmland to other departments for other uses including development of hi-tech city, IT city, medical institute/hospitals and administrative officers training institute. He had said that the State Government was willing to obtain necessary clearances including that from the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi.
{{/usCountry}}The petitioners are opposing the transfer of Chak Ganjaria Farm land to other departments saying that it is a natural habitation of protected species, such as Peacock, Deer, Jackal, Parrots, Owls and Sparrow etc. They have raised environmental concern also stating that the move would entail destruction of trees and displacement of animals and birds. They have said that the farmland is part of a forest, a claim, which has been denied by the State Government. Principal Secretary Sadakant, who has filed a sworn statement before the high court, stated that the land in question was neither part of a forest nor was it being acquired. It is merely a case of transfer of government farmland to other departments for other uses including development of hi-tech city, IT city, medical institute/hospitals and administrative officers training institute. He had said that the State Government was willing to obtain necessary clearances including that from the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi.
{{/usCountry}}The matter came up before the high court bench on Monday but hearing was deferred till July 26. Lenin says that he has documentary evidence in the form of land records obtained from locals of the area showing that the land has been acquired for hi-tech city and is part of a forest.