Vadodara Mayor declared to take back 46 plots given for Green Belt to organisations

Continued their protest Vadodara City Congress on Thursday once raised the issue of irregularities in the name of afforestation on the plots alloted by the corporation. They handed over an application to the mayor requesting him to take back the plots. Much to their delight Mayor Keyur Rokadia decided to take over the disputed 46 plots.

The green belt plots were allotted by the Vadodara Corporation to organisations for afforestation and other social activities. However it sparked by allegations of illegal construction and commercial use. Congress has taken up the issue and run a campaign to highlight the irregularities on the plots.

On Thursday they handover saplings to Mayor in a unique protest to raise the issue once again. Congress protested against allotment of crores of rupees of corporation land to private and political persons in the name of green belt afforestation and demanded investigation into corruption in old plots and possession of all plots by the corporation.

After their protest Mayor Keyur Rokadia declared to take back the possession of plots by the corporation. He said that on the basis of the 1991 resolution, Vadodara Municipal Corporation allotted 46 plots of green and open space to various organizations and citizens for different purposes. In some of these plots no activity was going on while in some plots garden was developed while in other plots tree planting was done. After the controversy a survey was carried out by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and 4 plots were withdrawn after giving notice to 20 plots along with the earlier four plots earlier. The time limit for these plot was also completed.

Mayor said that the corporation will take back all the 46 plots and carry out activities including tree planting. He also thanked the organizations and people who have done a good job on the plot so far.

The opposition welcomed the decision and ensure to kept a watch on them. "Its the victory of citizens and environment as the plots are now being used for the purpose it was given. The plots now will be used for green Belt development and it will benefit everyone in coming days, " Said Ami Rawat Leader of Opposition.

Congress later burst crackers and celebrate the decision.