New Delhi [India], May 6 (ANI): The Central government rubbished the Aam Aadmi Party's allegation of "bulldozing temples", saying that the demolition is being done as per the procedure.

New Delhi Dec 21 PTI Apex auditor CAG on Tuesday pulled up the Land and Development Office for not having adequate control over its properties saying it was not able to manage the lease administration efficiently as there was irregular inspection and inadequate documentation of the leased properties The Comptroller and Auditor General of India CAG also said there was no sanctioned building plan in eight properties out of the sampled 29 properties and the department had been demanding the same from the lessee It was not clear how the Land and Development Office LDO which comes under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry conducted inspections without the sanctioned building plans the CAG said in a report tabled in parliament on Tuesday The report stated that the audit observed that in 19 cases dues towards damage misuse interest among others amounting to Rs 44408 crore were outstanding It stated that for receipt of outstanding dues demand letters in respect of only 20 properties out of 29 sampled properties amounting to Rs 32654 crore were last issued to the lessees between June 1977 to December 2019 of which LDO could not recover Rs 32512 crore 9957 per cent LDO did not calculate and review dues from leases nor did it enforce them on defaulters in a timely manner Despite the allottees failure to deposit the dues no action was taken The allottees were reaping all the benefits of their assets while failing to meet their obligations in terms of charges for misuse and unauthorisd constructions the CAG report stated It also stated that LDO did not have adequate control over its properties and was not able to manage the lease administration efficiently and effectively The CAG also observed that LDO was allotting plots to various entities for construction of their building and running their activities It was seen that in three cases LDO had to cancel the allotment of plot and allot another plot in lieu of the same for reasons such as allotment of encroached plot smaller plot etc which shows that LDO was not aware of the actual status of the properties vested under its control it said The report also cited such a case study involving the All India Trinamool Congress AITMC for which land was allotted in March 2011 The possession of land could not be handed over to AITMC due to encroachment Thereafter another plot was allotted on as is where is basis to AITMC at DDU Marg in December 2013 Before handing over the land AITMC inspected the plot and found that it was also not free from encroachment and refused to take possession of the encroached plot it stated Thereafter LDO conducted the inspection of the plot in April 2019 and two temples unauthorizsd were found at the site LDO replied in December 2020 that the plot at Rouse Avenue initially allotted to AITMC could not be handed over as the Delhi Wakf Board did not allow demarcation of the land claiming that the land in question belongs to the Delhi Wakf Board it said Therefore two other plots at DDU Marg were allotted to AITMC on as is where is basis on December 20 2013 subject to amalgamation of the two plots AITMC refused to take over the possession as two temples were situated on the site The requisite action for removal of encroachment from the allotted land had already been initiated and land would be offered for allotment to AITMC Even then if AITMC refuses the offer allotment will be cancelled and earmarked land will be put to alternative use it said LDO had further replied in April 2021 that temples in Delhi could be removed by the Religious Committee of the Delhi government It is evident from the reply that LDO was not aware of the encroachment before allotment Further LDO could not get the encroachment removed even after seven years of allotment it added The CAG report added that LDO has so far not issued any specific instructions to sub-registrar offices that the properties under the control of LDO should not be registered without its permission In the absence of such instructions the sub-registrar offices would not be in a position to identify the properties belonging to LDO for registration purposes it said PTI BUN SRY