Govt to probe windmill land sale

Non-conventional energy minister Vinay Kore on Wednesday announced that a committee will be set up to probe into the irregularities that are alleged to have been made in the purchase of land for setting up windmills owned by actor Aishwarya Rai, former actor Twinkle Khanna, and politician Amar Singh.

Bharatiya Janata Party member Nitin Gadkari claimed in the legislative council that land belonging to tribals, farmers and scheduled caste people had been acquired for the windmills for a few thousand rupees later resold for crores of rupees.

Gadkari claimed that Suzlon, a company involved setting up windmills, had purchased land from farmers and tribals in Dhule and Nandurbar districts by paying them Rs7000 to 25,000. “The land was later sold to its investors, including Aishwarya Rai, Twinkle Khanna and Amar Singh at Rs12 lakh to Rs36 lakh each. The government should ensure that the original landowners get at least Rs1 lakh per month,” he said.

Kore said a three-member high-level committee comprising an additional chief secretary and the secretaries of revenue and non-conventional energy departments will be set up to investigate the land transactions.

He said that the non-conventional energy department has prepared a proposal for the benefit of the original landowners of the windmills. “The proposal will be presented before the cabinet for its approval within eight days,” he said.