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No action by CBI on ‘illegal’ Landour cantonment constructions

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Landour-constructions-by-Abhin
            Private individuals have constructed several hotels illegally in the high security and sensitive area.

By ABHINANDAN MISHRA | NEW DELHI | 30 July, 2016

The CBI is yet to act on a complaint made by an estate officer belonging to the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO), alleging that private individuals have constructed several guesthouses and hotels illegally in the high security and sensitive Landour cantonment area in Mussoorie.

The complaint letter and other related documents that have been accessed by this newspaper, say that the construction of hotels and guesthouses in the cantonment area was done without taking any required permission, mostly between 2000 and 2014. The letter alleges that most of the hotels and the guesthouses belong to a Mumbai based hotelier named Sanjay Narang.

In the letter, which was sent by the DRDO official on 6 July to the CBI, the complainant had stated that several high-end hotels and guesthouses were running illegally in the high security cantonment area.

“There many high end hotels and guest houses are running here illegally such as Rokeby Manor, Bothwell Bank, Tabour Cottage, Pine Tree Lodge, Lanodur Bakery (all owned by Mars Hospitality Group of Sanjay Narang), La Villa Batheny, Ivy Bank, Domas Inn, Devdar Woods, Prospect Point,” the letter, which was received by the CBI, reads.

According to the letter, the CEO of the Landour Cantonment Board stated that “no permission has been given to anyone to build any guesthouse” when the DRDO official wrote to the former, asking how and when permission to build these guesthouses were given.

The reply by Subrat Pal, the CEO of the Landour Cantonment, dated 12 May 2016, reads: “The board has not given licenses to any persons or firms to run the guest houses in the cantonment area.”

The DRDO official thereafter wrote to the CBI seeking investigation into how these guesthouses and resorts were allowed to come up in the high security zone.

“Sachin Tendulkar had admitted that he had met Manohar Parrikar to seek help in sorting out the problems being faced by Narang in Landour cantonment.”

The complainant, in his letter alleged, “Mr Narang also constructed a big mansion (Dahlia Bank) behind ITM violating Works of Defence act… It’s impossible to run 12 hotels without permission in a cantonment area, if (the) integrity and sanctity of the Cantonment is intact.” This newspaper has independently confirmed that the CBI has received the letter. ITM is Institute of Technology Management, a DRDO laboratory.

Sources in DRDO said that ITM had raised the issue of illegal construction of guesthouses and resorts in the cantonment area in 2007 and had written to the local authorities and the cantonment board seeking investigation into the same. But no action was taken either by the local authorities or the cantonment board, sources further revealed.

According to them, a letter seeking inquiry into these illegal constructions was also written to the Defence Estate Officer, Meerut Cantonment, in June this year after which a senior defence official from the Central Command met the complainant and other officials last week in Mussoorie.

This newspaper has accessed another letter written by one Colonel Sial, nominated member from ITM in the Landour Cantonment Board. The letter, written in May, alleges that at least six guesthouses and resorts are being operated by Mars Hospitality Group inside Landour cantonment area. The letter reads: “…none of the owners of the properties have been able to produce any letter that allows them to carry out construction, repair or addition.”

Replying to this newspaper’s queries, Sanjay Narang stated, “I have not seen any complaint filed by the ITM against our properties in Landour. Rest assured all of our properties have been acquired legally and are operated with all permissions necessary. We have no resort in Landour and the only guesthouse we operate in Landour is Rokeby Manor, which has been running since prior to 1905.” Despite repeated attempts, CBI director Anil Sinha did not respond to the queries of this newspaper. However, sources in the agency said that since this was a very high profile matter, the agency was waiting before taking appropriate action. Retired cricketer Sachin Tendulkar had last week admitted that he had met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to seek help in sorting out the problems being faced by Narang in Landour cantonment.

Drdo

Totally endorse the stand taken by Parrikar. A minister should listen to everyone but must act in accordance with constitution and for the larger good – Amita, Chennai

1 Comment

The aforementioned comment was posted by Amita from Chennai on the TOI article “business ally’s resort in Mussoorie: Officials” 19th July 2016

By seeing these views, the DRDO team gets charged to fight against corruption because they feel confident that a Defence Minister like Sh. Parrikar is there to stop all corrupt influences. Maybe some time is taken and some delays occur, but ultimately this corrupt gang of DRDO will soon get a big hit for their wrong doings.

Last few days Mr. Narang continue visiting ITM with a mobile and discussed the issue with ITM officials and showed his clarifications of property and asked whether ITM had complained officially or not. If they had not, then he asked for a letter mentioning some favors.

During the time of earlier Director, Mr. Narang visited ITM with a briefcase but returned without the briefcase and coincidentally the then Director and number two both were on long leave for few days and in between the construction was done in full swing.

Here is a copy of the letter sent to CVC regarding the property developed in the cantonment area adjacent to ITM, DRDO.

 

To                                                                               Date: 06.07.2016

The Chief Vigilance Commissioner,

Satarkata Bhawan,

New Delhi

Sub: Mushrooming illegal Hotels and Guest houses in Landour Cantt. Mussoorie

Honourable Chief Vigilance Commissioner,

I am writing this letter to complain about illegal high investment commercial activities going on in Landour Cantonment probably in collusion with officials, and members of cantonment board.

If Mussoorie is called “Queen of Hills” then Lanodur Cantt. Area can be called as “Crown of the Queen”. You may be aware that the green cover of these beautiful hills is being destroyed by indiscriminate urbanization, and commercial activity turning them into concrete jungles. Unfortunately, where Cantonment areas are supposed to be an example of clean and green with strict following of law and order, and integrity but we got an example of such cantonment in Landour which seems to be working other way and helping cronies occupy prime locations and indulging in indiscriminate, illegal commercial activities. The institute of Technology Management, DRDO is located in the Landour Cantt. And is the major stakeholder of the cantonment area. As Scientist of DRDO, and Officer In charge of Works (Estate) of Institute of Technology Management, I tried to do my best in my official capacity to highlight these activities in the vicinity of institute with Cantonment board authorities including GOC of Uttarakhand Subarea  on grounds of destruction of green cover of the hill, encroachment of  ITM roads, and high density moment of foreign tourist visiting these illegal hotels and guest houses posing severe inconvenience  and security threat to DRDO lab but I found things are much murkier than what I imagined. There is a sense of systematic and deep rooted corruption in Cantonment to allow multi billion investments by big players in hospitality industry with covert protection for flourishing their business.

Since I felt I have severe limitation to tackle at an official capacity, I should write to you at personal level to deal with the situation with suitable action. There are many high end hotels and guest houses running here illegally such as Rokeby Manor, Bothwell Bank, Tabour Cottage, Pine Tree Lodge, Lanodur Bakery (All owned by Mars Hospitality Group of Mr. Sanajay Narang), La Villa Batheny, Ivy Bank, Domas Inn, Devdar Woods,  Prospect Point. When ITM wrote to CEO cantonment about how you give these guest houses permission without any parking space due to which ITM roads are being blocked! In reply he said, we gave no permission to any such guesthouses to run. This shocking reply itself shows how such high end guest houses can run without covert support of Cantonment officials and members. Majority of these guesthouses are owned by Mr. Sanajay Narang, surprisingly all these within a span of 4-5 years. Mr. Sanajay Narang also constructed a big mansion (Dahlia Bank) behind ITM violating Works of Defence ACT. ITM in a court case with him with this regard (He filed a writ petition after losing the same case in Supreme court of India) in this case too Cantt. took good sweet time to comply with orders of SC so that he gets good time to file a writ petition. These high end hotels are made with investment worth 100s of crores (Especially hotels of Mr Narang) and cater to foreign tourists, high end guests including ministers, VIPS and judges. Its impossible to run 12 hotels without permission in a cantonment area, if integrity and sanctity of the Cantonment is intact. If Cantt. Not given any such permission than they are not even charging these properties to the tune of amount chargeable from commercial properties! Moreover, Cantonment board them self indulging in such activities, such as Building of Ivy Cafe, where they have initially taken sanction for double story car parking but the lower level space was constructed in such a way so that it becomes impossible for parking cars. This basement was later rented out for a cafe. In the same way, for another property the board has taken initial sanction for Cantt. Accommodation and guest house, but leased out to a private party to run guesthouse for civil tourist. The guy who has taken lease of this property had expanded to a big cafe but lack no space for a vehicle parking. This property made serious congestion of key road leading to ITM. It sounds fishy about how sanction for constructing something else has been changed to constructing a building for entirely for different purpose.

These all activities in the Landour Cantt ruining sanctity and credibility of a cantonment and promoting rampant corruption and destroying green belt of the Crown of the Queen of the Hills (Mussoorie). I humbly request you to kindly order an enquiry on how these illegal hotels are running, who are behind it, involvement of Cantonment officials and presidents since last 6-7 years and save this serene hill from thugs and thieves. There is a serious fraud and corruption happening here, I wonder it may prove bigger than “Adarsh Housing Scam”.

Thank you

 

                                                                                                                           Landour Cantt. Mussoorie

 

Enclosures:

 

Letters related to communication with Landour Cantt.

Screenshots of web pages of these guesthouses

Other related documents

Copy to

Director General, Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi

Director General of Defence Estates, New Delhi (Without enclosures)