NA Open House: 'Kuch Khatta, Kuch Meetha'

The Ahmedabad district collectorate organised an Open House for granting non-agriculture (NA) permission. The office cleared 250 files by either granting permission or rejecting application along with reasons for the same. Some of the applicants were all praises for the system. However, a few others were not too happy with the arrangement.

The collectorate had invited around 250 applicants in person for taking the decision on converting agriculture land into non-agriculture land. "It is a mammoth task to bring together 250 applicants simultaneously. We have made the system as transparent as we can," said Vijay Nehra, district collector of Ahmedabad.

Nehra said that they had intimated all applicants who had filed for NA certification before March. Applications received after that will be handled in the open house in May. "The applicants who have provided all documents and necessary information are issued NA within 50-55 days," he said. Nehra also said that the officials have been asked to remain present during the open houses. In case they do not submit an opinion or a report, they are asked for explanation in presence of the applicant.

The collector has banned entry of agents involved in business of obtaining NA on behalf of farmers or developers. No one is allowed to meet employees working in the office of Chitnis (the department that carries out procedures related to conversion of land status to NA) for any kind of follow-up. "We have asked applicants not to take service of agents for obtaining NA. These agents project the department as corrupt for their vested interest," said Nehra.

Arvind Thakkar, an applicant, said, "Those who do not have any influence also get equal treatment in such an arrangement." On the other hand, some applicants said  their files were pending for nine months to one-and-a-half year. They blamed the collectorate for not cooperating in sourcing documents from revenue department. "If we have to provide all documents, what is the use of such open house?" asked Arvind Patel, who had applied for conversion of 10,000 sq m agriculture land in Naroda area. There were around 35-40 applicants who queued up to meet the collector as they were not granted NA permission.

Another applicant, Sanjay Kachadia from Hathijan, said that there is no proper sitting arrangement for applicants. Unhappy with the collector's decision to disallow power of attorney, an applicant said that they have to pay additional money to the farmer to bring him to the Open House.