BJP MLA writes to Khattar over Gwal Pahari land ownership

The Gwal Pahari land issue has acquired a political dimension a month before the city is likely to go for municipal elections, with Gurgaon MLA and BJP leader Umesh Agarwal writing to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and urging steps to ensure that residents are not displaced. He also “promised” to raise the issue on the floor of the state assembly.

In his letter to the chief minister, the MLA said that the order issued by TL Satyaprakash, former district collector and commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), divesting the municipal body of land rights at Gwal Pahari, was “fallacious”.

The MCG moved court challenging Satyaprakash’s January order and laying claim to the Gwal Pahari plots. The new MCG deputy commissioner, Hardeep Singh, stayed the order.

In a statement, Aggarwal said he is going to “disclose” the Gwal Pahari fiasco and safeguard residents who are being issued displacement orders by the MCG.

“I have written a letter to the chief minister apprising him of Satyaprakash’s order, which he seems to have used for personal gains only,” Aggarwal said.

According to Aggarwal, the January 2 order divesting the MCG of land rights at Gwal Pahari and Satyaprakash’s subsequent transfer as Director of Town and Country Planning is interlinked and believes he was merely acting on “orders from top bureaucrats for his transfer.”

When contacted, Satyaprakash refused to comment on the matter.

Satyprakash and Aggarwal were embroiled in several controversies in 2016 after the former DC had allegedly rejected a request for registering Aggarwal’s plot in Sector 22. Later, the MLA claimed to have found irregularities in land registrations during a surprise inspection at the Gurgaon tehsildar’s office. He also accused Satyaprakash for his inaction over illegal constructions in the city and of employing 19 retired officials in the MCG as consultants and protecting them from being sacked.

Aggarwal also claimed that he will flag the Gwal Pahari issue during the next session of the Haryana assembly.

Speaking on the eviction notices being sent to Gwal Pahari residents, Aggarwal said he is hopeful of an inquiry by the chief minister’s office into the order issued by Satyaprakash and the MCG.

“I have assured the residents of Gwal Pahari that the government is looking into the matter and will ensure the eviction orders are revoked and the lands remain with them,” the MLA said.