GREATER NOIDA: There is little headway in the police probe into the Rs 126 crore Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) scam, in which former authority CEO P C Gupta and other former and current officials are involved.Meanwhile, a report by Meena Bhargava, the current GM (planning), who probed into the purchase of 57 hectares of land, reveals how YEIDA officials, under the then CEO, had bypassed rules to purchase land in seven Mathura villages. The report was handed over to YEIDA chairman and Meerut division commissioner Prabhat Kumar on December 8, 2012.Of the 57 hectare purchased by YEIDA in 2013 from seven villages — Madaur, Seo Patti Banger, Seo Patti Khadar, Kolana Banger, Kolana Khadar, Sotipura Bangar and Nauhjheel Banger — the purchase of only eight hectares “seems relevant” — to build ramps for the Bajna-Nauhjhil road.The report says the land purchase was done for three reasons — to build exit/entry ramps on the Yamuna Expressway and Bajna-Naujhil road — and for allotment of 7% developed land to the farmers, in lieu of land acquired from them for the construction of Yamuna Expressway.The report notes Gupta had formed a committee for demarcation of the 7% of abadi land. “The committee, formed by the then CEO on October 1, 2013, recommended demarcation of plots in three villages — Seo Patti Banger, Seo Patti Khadar and Kolana Khadar. But, apart from that, purchase of different plots of land was also sanctioned in all seven villages”, the report states.The probe revealed officials publicised only one of the land purchase deals (Seo Patti Banger) in two local newspapers — Insaf Kalyan and Deshratan — which don’t even fall in the category of regional newspapers. Further, although government files mention all plot-related documents, including ownership documents (khatauni, khasra and benama) of all plots purchased, the annexures include documents of only a few of these plots. “Due process has not been followed in the purchase of land,” reads the report, accessed by TOI.It has also come to fore that the minutes of YEIDA’s 46th board meeting mention a provision in the concession agreement which says the Jaypee concessionaire will have to bear the total cost of acquisition. “Hence, there will be no additional burden on YEIDA, in case 7% abadi land is given to farmers whose land has been acquired, as the cost will be borne by the concessionaire. However, there is no mention of recovery of costs from the concessionaire,” reads the report.The land has still not been used up by YEIDA. Since the land was purchased by the Authority from 19 individuals/companies at higher rates, it indicates these people have benefited from the purchase.

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