Hindi Bhawan is being leased out, claims councillor

Ghaziabad: A councillor in Ghaziabad has accused the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) of turning a blind eye to the commercial use of Hindi Bhawan even though the development agency had cancelled the lease agreement.
Councillor Rajender Tyagi has accused civil defence warden Lalit Jaiswal and MLA Atul Garg, also a minister in the Yogi government, of helping each other in wresting control of Hindi Bhawan which was developed by the GDA for promotion of Hindi literature.
“The GDA, way back in 1986, had leased out 3,838 sqm of land to Hindi Bhawan Samiti at a concessional rate solely for the purpose of promotion of Hindi language. At the rate of Rs 88 per sqm, the samiti owed Rs 3.37 lakh to GDA but it paid only Rs 60,000 and so far, Rs 36 lakh, including interest, is due,” said Tyagi.
“But the samiti went on to book and charge for commercial and other political activities, which was in violation of the terms and condition. As a result of non-payment of dues and violation of terms and conditions, the GDA had in 2006 cancelled its lease but even after so many years, it failed to take possession of the premises,” he added.
While Jaiswal said he would have to go through the allegations made by Tyagi to comment, GDA vice chairperson Kanchan Verma said a notice to the samiti has been issued to vacate the premises.