Sukhbir Badal got policy tweaked to get Rs 108 cr tax sops for Sukhvilas: Punjab CM
Ruchika M Khanna
Chandigarh, February 29
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said his government will initiate action against SAD president Sukhbir Badal and his colleagues in the then Akali-BJP government’s Cabinet for tweaking rules to make a tailor-made Eco Tourism Policy in 2009 that gave legal sanction to a five-star hotel owned by the Badal family in New Chandigarh.
Capt’s home under scanner too
We may also look into the violations done in the construction of Mohinder Bagh in Parol village, home of Capt Amarinder Singh, near Sukhvilas. Bhagwant Mann, CM
Will take stock of assets: CM
CM Bhagwant Mann said his government was also taking stock of state’s land and assets located in other states. “We have already taken back 8 acres illegally leased out to a private company by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi at abysmally low prices without taking prior approval of all stakeholders. We are also taking stock of a prime land owned by Milkfed in Kolkata. An office of Verka will be set up at Nabha House in Delhi and we propose to open more such outlets in Delhi,” he said.
File case, dares SAD
SAD chief spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler has challenged the CM to register a case to substantiate the allegations against SAD chief Sukhbir Badal or apologise for uttering malicious lies, failing which he should be ready to face another defamation suit. This is being raked up solely to divert the attention from the zero FIR registered in the case involving the killing of Shubhkaran.
After tweaking rules, government departments then gave tax incentives of Rs 108.73 crore to the hotel, he said. Action would also be initiated against those who were at the helm of affairs in these departments.
“Sukhbir was the Deputy Chief Minister when the policy was framed. His luxury resort Sukhvilas in Pallanpur village is the only resort that came up under this policy. He ensured that his resort got 100 per cent electricity duty exemption, 75 per cent exemption on SGST and VAT, 75 per cent exemption on luxury tax and annual licence fee from 2015-25. Is it Sukhvilas for the state or Dukhvilas?,” the CM asked.
“I have already asked the Advocate General to look into the policy and find out how the rules were tweaked and the role of persons involved. After his opinion is taken, we will proceed against all those involved in the loot of public money for personal gain of Badal. Every penny will be recovered from him,” said Mann.
Specifying the tax exemption taken by the Akali Dal president, Mann said the resort became profitable after getting VAT and SGST exemptions of Rs 85.84 crore, electricity duty exemption of Rs 11.44 crore and luxury tax and annual licence fee exemption of Rs 11.44 crore, for this project for 10 years.
He said the land for the resort was bought by the Badal family in 1985-86. A part of this land was forestland and some portion of it was under the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900.
“Since the construction on this land was not allowed, first part of the land was freed from the PLPA, rules were tweaked to pave the way for the construction of the hotel on 20 acres. The land was purchased and transferred from one entity to another, all related to the Badal family. Even the roads were built to provide direct access to the resort,” he said. Mann said Sukhbir, his wife and their company Dabwali Transport had shares in the company. Asked on what action his government proposed to take on the luxury resort, Mann said ,”If you want to see bulldozers there, we will fulfil your wishes. But maybe, we construct a school “with a pool” there, since many rooms have private pools”.
“We may also look into the violations done in the construction of Mohinder Bagh in Parol village (home of Capt Amarinder Singh), near Sukhvilas,” he said .
