Apprehending large-scale irregularities in the allotment of farmhouses in Noida during the Mayawati regime, the Uttar Pradesh Government has asked the Noida Development Authority Chairman to conduct an inquiry and submit its report in a week’s time.

The State Government ordered the inquiry on Tuesday after receiving a note from the Noida Chief Development Officer, Mr Sanjiv Saran, in this regard, a senior officer in the Industrial Development Commissioner said here on Wednesday.

Some 150 farmhouses of 10,000 sq mt each were allotted to 120 influential companies and 29 individuals at throwaway prices, sources said.

According to the officer, agricultural land of a dozen villages was acquired and allotted for building farmhouses against the established policy which mandates such an acquisition only for industrial use.

The Noida Development Authority Chairman, Mr Rakesh Bahadur, has been asked to submit his report in this connection in a week’s time, he said.

Last year also the local audit cell had reported alleged irregularities in the allotments but the then Government had turned a blind eye to it, he said.

According to sources, the farmhouse scam could have caused a loss of Rs 145 crores to the exchequer.

Mr Bahadur has also been asked to probe two more scams in Noida, including unauthorised construction and subsequent demolition on the orders of the apex court at the Dalit Prerna Sthal built on the green belt worth around Rs 59.77 crore and excess payments of Rs 391 crore on sub-standard material in the scheme meant for supplying Ganga water to Noida, the officer said.

Some payments on this work were carried out in the back date after the announcement of the Assembly elections, he added.

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