Report is incorrect, concocted & sensationalized: Vijay Goel on DDA land controversy

Hours after reports surfaced that Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has changed its layout plan to allot a plot to an NGO, associated with union minister, Vijay Goel, the minister has clarified it saying that the reports are “incorrect, concocted & sensationalized.”

Here’s is the clarification presented by Goel:

Earlier in the day, media reports suggest that the DDA allotted the land, to the NGO, which was otherwise earmarked for a post office. The NGO is a  Vaish Aggarwal Education Society, of which Goel is the vice president.

Reports further suggest that the NGO sought the land from the authority soon after Goel became a Rajya Sabha member in Narendra Modi-led NDA  government. The NGO was seeking the land to set up a toy bank in the land.

According to the NGO, the toy bank collects used and unused toys as donations, and distributes them to underprivileged children.

DDA records suggest that Goel’s son, Siddhant and daughter, Vidyun are also members of the Non-government organisation.

The report said that DDA officials visited the land sought by the NGO on 23 December 2015.

“Situated in Derawal Nagar, GT Road Delhi. the site under reference is maintained as a park where one side is adjoining to Adharsheela nursery school (run by VAES). (and) is earmarked for the post office in the layout plan to confirm/verify whether any correspondence has been sent to postal department”, the report stated.

The DDA’s screening committee sanctioned modifications in the layout plan after receiving the request and the plot was allotted to the NGO on  1 September 2016, on the payment of Rs 1.77 crore made a month ago.