JDA notice on Lilypool, other buildings

JAIPUR: Lilypool, the French-styled luxurious estate of late royal Gayatri Devi, Hotel Lakshmi Villas and Kanak Bhawan, all located in the Rambagh Complex, have been served evacuation notice by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA).
Having acquired the 332 bighas (208 acres) of land in 1973, the agency reinstated its claim on Thursday following an explanation sought by the Rajasthan High Court earlier this week while hearing a 2003 public interest litigation filed by Sanjay Tyagi.
Despite the PIL, JDA showed little interest in the property estimated to be worth over Rs 1,000 crore and the evacuation process was not initiated till a 10-day ultimatum was given by the high court on Monday.
"The notices have been issued under Section 72 of the JDA Act regarding encroachment on government land," said DIG (enforcement) Malini Agarwal. "The land belongs to the authority and its possession will be taken soon," she added.
"It is pity that even to defend its own property, the state government needs strict instructions from the high court. They feel at ease displacing small land owners while influential people continue to cherish the property even after years of acquisition," said advocate Vimal Choudhary.
The notices issued on Thursday are a face-saving exercise by the JDA before the next hearing scheduled on May 20. "Proprietors of Lakshmi Villas and Kanak Bhawan have been issued the notice as they are located on government land. Some portion of Lilypool also rests on the acquired land. Hence, successors of Gayatri Devi have been served the notice," said a JDA official.
According to JDA officials, the land belonging to Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jain Nasiyan, Ashok Club and Birla Planetarium were excluded from acquisition. However, nearly 12 bigha of land currently under Lilypool was reportedly part of the acquired land.
The acquisition was held legal by the court in a decision in 1993 following which JDA has deposited a compensation of Rs 4.18 crore with the court. The royal family subsequently approached the high court demanding an enhancement of compensation to Rs 300 crore.
The JDA had been ineffective in preventing encroachment over the valuable public property located in the heart of the city. The stud farm continued to exist over the land while other constructions were held over the property during the past decade.
JDA officials are reluctant to comment on the high profile case. However, following the high court directives, the authority had no option but to take action against the encroachers.