The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Tuesday put up its signage in the 150-acre area of Gwal Pahari to legally claim over the contentious area in the Aravalli hills. The action was initiated by MCG to make sure that the 150-acre area in Gwal Pahari does not get encroached upon.
The ownership pattern at Gwal Pahari's 464-acre land is embroiled in a major controversy with allegations of massive corruption in registration of land for commercial and real estate development. With most of the 464-acre area of Gwal Pahari being occupied, the ownership of MCG on Gwal Pahari area has been challenged legally in various courts.
On Tuesday, the team of MCG headed by Joint Commissioner YS Gupta laid claim over the 150-acre area of Gwal Pahari, which is free from court's stay order.
Preparations were made to ensure no violent protests take place over MCG placing legal signboards at the 150-acre area.
The MCG team was accompanied by personnel from Gurugram Police and fire service department to meet any adverse eventualities during the process. There were also ambulances.
With the area not being legally contested, the process went off peacefully.
However, the MCG officials conceded that a greater challenge will be to get the ownership of the remaining area that has been occupied previously.
"The MCG has started its process to legally claim the Gwal Pahari area. The team of MCG on Tuesday started off with legally claiming 150-acre area out of the 464-acre area of the Gwal Pahari that was not under the stay order of the court. We have already sent notices to 320 occupants residing in Gwal Pahari area and made them know that this is the land of MCG," said YS Gupta, Joint Commissioner MCG.
The controversy of the ownership pattern of the 424-acre area of Gwal Pahari started after former MCG Commissioner TL Satyaprakash in January cancelled the mutation order of Gwal Pahari area in control of MCG.
Questions were raised on the decision as it was seen as a move to favour the real estate developers on a prime land in the city, valued at Rs 4,500 crore. The decision of former commissioner was later stayed by the Haryana Government.
With the issue of Gwal Pahari area also being raised in the Haryana legislative assembly, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has stated that the controversy of ownership of Gwal Pahari must be solved by judiciary.