VB likely to probe mega projects

Sticking to its pre-election intentions of reviewing all “controversial” projects cleared by the Amarinder regime, the SAD-BJP government is likely to place mega projects, including Ludhiana City Centre, Janta Land Developers, Silicon Constructions Limited, Unitech and Ansals among the 317, under scrutiny of the Vigilance Bureau.

Sources in the government said to start with, the Vigilance will first probe the Ludhiana City Centre scam of Rs 2,100 crore. Awarded to Today Homes, the centre was under a cloud when it was alleged that Today Homes sold off the commercial property and took undue favours. The previous government did order a Vigilance probe into it, but the report was “wishy-washy”.

In the case of Janta Land Developers project in Mohali, a scam of Rs 2,000 crore was alleged by the Akalis. It was further alleged that the empowered committee headed by the then CM, Capt Amarinder Singh, cleared the project and allowed change of land use from green space to a colony. The green space was earmarked for a park, but was given to Janta Developers, a company run by former Mohali Municipal Council president Kulwant Singh.

“Also, Silicon Construction Limited of Kewal Dhillon, now a Congress MLA, was cleared by the empowered committee. This company was set up with a bare minimum capital of Rs 1 lakh and another Rs 1 lakh as paid capital. This company was given permission to construct a shopping complex-cum-mall with an proposed investment of Rs 110 crore. Also, Kewal has been given permission to set up 11 multiplexes in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Ropar, Bathinda, Mohali and Zirakpur, besides six hotels. It is alleged that concessions worth Rs 3,258 crore were given to him for these mega projects, which are likely to be probed now,’’ said an official.

Sukbir Badal had raised eyebrows in the run-up to the elections over these projects.

The projects which might come under the VB scanner is a milk project of Dumex India Limited at Jagraon with a proposed investment of Rs 175 crore; Abhishek Industries of Rajesh Gupta of Trident with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore as they proposed a textile park, textile unit and so on; housing and multiplex projects of Ansals; a housing project worth Rs 400 crore by Unitech in Mohali; Clarion Properties housing project worth Rs 125 crore in Amritsar and Eldeco Infrastructure housing projects in Jalandhar, Rajpura and Ludhiana worth about Rs 400 crore.

Others include Malhotra Land Developers, an industrial project of Amartex Industries and Bhankarput Distilleries in Ferozepur of Suraj Gupta.

Resource://expressindia.com