Uttarakhand: Mussoorie George Everest tender controversy, Leader of Opposition raised serious questions, department responded

A major controversy has erupted in Uttarakhand over tourism development. Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya has leveled serious allegations against the state government regarding the tender for work at the famous tourist destination, George Everest, in Mussoorie. Arya stated that the government has committed the biggest corruption in the annual lease of tourism department land. He questioned yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his companies, stating that the granting of approximately 762 bighas of land in Mussoorie to a company called Aero Sports and Adventure Private Limited for a mere Rs. 1 crore annually is unjustified. The Congress party has demanded a CBI investigation into the matter.

Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya alleged that the company awarded the work has occupied approximately 1,000 bighas of land on the spot. The Congress claims that all three companies that applied for the tender are directly or indirectly linked to Ramdev’s associate, Acharya Balkrishna. The Congress has alleged that the estimated value of the land and properties here is approximately Rs. 30,000 crore and that an attempt has been made to hand it over to private hands for a paltry sum. The Congress party has called this the biggest scam in Uttarakhand so far.

Land worth ₹30,000 crore (US$10 million) at the George Everest Estate was leased to Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved company for a mere ₹1 crore (US$10 million) annually. The 142-acre land leased to Ramdev’s associate Balkrishna’s company, Rajas Aero Sports and Adventure Private Limited, for 1 crore rupees annually for 15 years, was previously developed by the government with a ₹23 crore (US$10 million) loan from the Asian Development Bank.

Yashpal Arya, Leader of the Opposition

He said that in the previous assembly session, the issue of leasing Tourism Department land worth ₹30,000 crore (US$10 million) in the George Everest area of ​​Mussoorie for ₹1 crore (US$10 million) annually was prominently raised. The company to which this land was leased is affiliated with Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali. This has exposed the fraudulent practices used to secure the contract for the Tourism Department’s land worth billions of rupees.

The Uttarakhand Tourism Board issued a tender for adventure tourism in Mussoorie. The tender winner was to be responsible for managing a 142-acre site, including a museum, observatory, cafeteria, sports area, parking, and more. Of this land, 142 acres (762 bighas or 2862 naalis or 5744566 square meters) was leased by the Deputy Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board to “Rajas Aero Sports and Adventure Private Limited” for a mere ₹1 crore (approximately ₹1 crore). Balkrishna’s company secured the tender for a fee of just ₹1 crore (approximately ₹1 crore). Surprisingly, Balkrishna also owned the second and third companies that came forward for the tender.

Yashpal Arya, Leader of the Opposition

He stated that the actual market value of commercial land is typically four times this, and up to 10 times this for commercial or tourist destinations. He added that the youth of Uttarakhand are suffering from unemployment. The government and officials are selling land here for a pittance. This is a huge betrayal of the people of the state. They have demanded an investigation into this entire tender allocation by the CBI or a committee headed by a retired judge.

Baba Ramdev grew up in Uttarakhand. This state has given him a lot. Today, he works as a businessman. Ramdev constantly praises the BJP. He is modeling his work on Adani and Ambani. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is kind to him. The government has spent the entire amount of money on the property he acquired. Congress is going to expose more major cases in the coming days.

Karan Mahara, State Congress President

Tourism Department’s Stand: Following these allegations by the Congress, the Tourism Department has presented its stand. Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal stated that in 1987, the district administration acquired 172.91 acres of land in George Everest. Following this, plans were made to promote tourism activities here. The state government is continuously improving this tourist destination. Construction of a heritage park began in 2019, which was completed in November 2022. A museum, laboratory, and café were constructed here at a cost of approximately ₹23.52 crore.

Dhiraj Singh Garbyal clarified that the tender process for conducting aerosports activities was completely transparent. Three companies had applied for the project. The work was awarded for 15 years only after evaluating technical and financial parameters. Dhiraj Singh Garbyal clarified that the land or assets were not sold or transferred to anyone. Their ownership will remain with the Tourism Department.

What is George Everest? George Everest is a historical monument located in the Hathipaon area of ​​Mussoorie. This site was the residence of British Surveyor General Sir George Everest. Sir George Everest conducted the Great Trigonometrical Survey (map work) in India from 1832 to 1843. Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, is named in his honor. His home and laboratory in Mussoorie remained neglected for a long time. In recent years, it has been developed as a tourist destination. It offers spectacular views of the Doon Valley and the Himalayan range.

The controversy shows no signs of abating: Congress is calling the George Everest tender controversy a fraud on the public and demanding an investigation. Meanwhile, the government and the department are calling it a transparent and lawful process. Following Congress’s allegations, the BJP also came forward with a detailed account. BJP state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan stated that the application process for tourism activities at George Everest in Mussoorie was legal, following all procedures. The land and resources at the developed site belong to the state. There are no restrictions on public movement or other activities near the site. He described Congress’s allegations as a bundle of lies and devoid of facts.