M A I N   N E W S

Maya’s farm income claim not genuine: CBI

New Delhi, July 24
The CBI has alleged that the claim of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati about earning Rs 64,000 from agricultural income “does not appear to be genuine.”

The BSP supremo had disclosed Rs 64,700 as agricultural income in the income tax returns filed for the assessment year of 1997-98, the CBI said citing an income tax department report. However, the CBI has informed the Supreme Court that most of the persons, who were shown as having purchased the foodgrains, denied any such transaction.

“The report received from the income tax department reveals that agricultural income of Rs 64,700 shown by Mayawati for assessment year 1997-98 does not appear to be genuine...most of the persons who were examined regarding sale of food grains, have denied to have purchased them from Mayawati," the CBI said in its counter-affidavit filed in the Apex court in response to a petition filed by Mayawati seeking quashing of CBI’s FIR filed in connection with the disproportionate assets case.

CBI said the district agricultural officers concerned have been asked to provide statement of yearly income from the agricultural lands owned by Mayawati and her family members during the check period. Mayawati has been accusing the CBI of being politically motivated. The CBI said in its 55-page affidavit that Mayawati and her family members had 18 bank accounts used for transferring funds.

“These accounts carry a total credit balance of Rs four crore and operation to all these have been frozen,” the affidavit said. Moveable assets worth Rs 1.05 crore in the name of family members of Mayawati have also been traced, which include 60 per cent shares in Hotel Shilton, Mussoorie.

Another 53 accounts and deposits in the names of Mayawati, her family members and relatives have been traced in different banks, which carry a total credit balance of Rs 7.36 crore.

“Operation of all these accounts have been frozen,” the CBI informed the Apex court. — PTI

Winds of change ground Maya project
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 24
Last year when the Civil Aviation Ministry approved the setting up of a new international airport at Jewar in Utter Pradesh, near Delhi, just seven weeks after the Mayawati-led state government sent the proposal, it was the fastest that any major greenfield airport project had been cleared by the ministry.

But just less than year since then, it is a project no one in the government wants to talk about.Political equations have changed and new alignments at the Centre have ensured that not only will the UP government’s ambitious project not be able to meet its Commonwealth Games deadline but for all practical purposes the Rs 3,500-crore global airport hub has effectively been relegated to cold storage.

The UPA government has signalled a virtual slowdown on projects promoted by Mayawati that also need the Centre’s nod and this includes the proposal for Jewar airport, which was to serve as the second airport for the National Capital Region.

The idea for the Jewar airport was first floated by the UP government in 2001. The project received approval from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in 2003 when Mayawati was the Chief Minister. However, the project remained stalled after the Mayawati-led government fell in August 2003.

After Mayawati came back to power in May 2007, the state government asked the Centre to revive the Greater Noida airport proposal as traffic projections for the IGIA had shot up after the aviation boom.

Relations between the Mayawati-led state government and the UPA government in the Centre were very cordial. The Centre reacted positively and said it was committed to see the Jewar airport through. A note on the airport project was also sent to different ministries for their views.

Things started changing after the Samajwadi Party was invited for the annual dinner to mark the four years of the UPA government. As far as Jewar airport is concerned, though the Aviation Ministry had cleared the project, the proposal remained pending approval from the Cabinet. The Cabinet also referred it to a GoM to look into legal obligations of the project but by then political equations had changed.

The state government is ready with the bidding document. The techno-feasibility study of the project has been completed and submitted to the Centre. Recently it also requested the Centre to convene a cabinet secretary-level meeting to clear any doubts about the proposed project. But neither did the Centre respond nor seek further clarifications. And after July 22, it is likely to remain that way till the situation changes.

Christened Taj International Airport hub, the airport is to built over 1,500 hectares at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district through PPP. Estimated to handle four million passengers annually, the project is envisaged as the only one of its kind in India, offered world-class facilities and amenities to passengers and airlines.

With two runways and cargo and transit facilities for international connecting flights, the periphery of the airport is proposed to be developed as a major commercial, residential, shopping and recreational centre as part of the project.