Surat: The District Administration of Surat is facing severe scrutiny and allegations of favoritism over its failure to implement the Disturbed Areas Act, 1991, a crucial piece of legislation designed to regulate property transactions in designated ‘disturbed’ areas. Former Congress councilor Aslam Cyclewala has leveled serious accusations against the administration, alleging that they have bowed to political pressure in order to benefit a prominent real estate developer operating in the disputed land of Gorat-Adajan in Surat.
The Disturbed Areas Act, 1991, enacted by the Gujarat Government, is meant to ensure fair property transactions and curb communal tensions in areas with a history of disputes. However, Cyclewala claims that the Act’s strict enforcement unfairly targets middle-class Hindu and Muslim buyers and sellers, while influential real estate companies that generously fund political parties enjoy the freedom to develop projects throughout the city, irrespective of whether the area is designated as ‘disturbed’ or not.
One striking example of this alleged disparity is the case of the Rajhans (Desai-Jain Group), a prominent real estate developer in Surat. This group is currently embarking on the construction of high-rise towers in a ‘disturbed’ area within Adajan-Gorat.
The land in question is located in a predominantly Hindu area, and the real estate company, Rajhans, plans to develop a substantial residential project known as ‘Rajhans Unica’ tailored for the Muslim community. The project’s location shares a boundary with the historic Gorat Hanuman Temple and adjacent Hindu-dominated residential societies.
Cyclewala, the former Congress councilor, expressed his concerns, stating, “The Disturbed Areas Act appears to be applied selectively, targeting small-time buyers and sellers from the Hindu and Muslim communities while influential real estate companies in Surat seemingly operate with impunity. The real estate developer in question is a major financial supporter of a specific political party, and the district administration has yet to take action against this company, seemingly under the influence of political leaders.”
The allegations against the District Administration have raised concerns about the potential misuse of the Disturbed Areas Act for political and financial gain. Local residents and activists are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that the Act is enforced impartially and serves its intended purpose of maintaining communal harmony and preventing property-related disputes. It remains to be seen whether the authorities will respond to these serious allegations and take necessary action to address the concerns raised by the community.
The situation has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the implementation of laws and regulations, especially in sensitive areas where communal tensions have the potential to flare up.
