Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram

Sabarmati, Ahmedabad – 380005.   Phone:  27505010-11

Email: ashramindia@ashram.org  Website: www.ashram.org

Dated: 06-01-2010 

Press Note 

Actual Facts Regarding the Land Dispute of Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram, Ahmedabad

1. This is to clarify that Ashram has acquired (bought) the following land over the years by paying the appropriate price to the government based on different orders:

 

Order Date	Survey No. 282/A Paiky	Old Village Level	Sabarmati River Paiky
26/03/1981	4860 Square Meter	1655 Square Meter	0.0.0
23/07/1992	2000 Square Meter	6000 Square Meter	2296 Square Meter
16/12/1997	11056 Square Meter	5775 Square Meter	592 Square Meter
06/01/1999	0.0.0	0.0.0	4860 Square Meter
Total Land Received	17916 Square Meter	13430 Square Meter	7748 Square Meter
Grand Total	39094 Square Meter (total land)

 

2. There is a Sabarmati River bank in the south of the Ashram, whose entire land is lying open. There has been NO construction of any kind on this land.

The allegation that a land area of 51101 square meter along the river bank is in illegal possession of the Ashram is totally baseless, false & in complete deviation of the actual facts. Ashram has NEVER been in possession of this land. It is only used for the Satsang program one or two times in a year during the Satsang Shivir (Spiritual Camp) for three or four days. 

3. The allegation of construction over the 547 Square Meter land area along the river bank is also completely false. The reality is that there is the Sabarmati River along the land, and in order to prevent the soil erosion, a retaining wall has been constructed on it. This retaining wall could not be constructed above due to the hillock on the land. This does not count as construction work & neither does it fall in the category of infringement.

4. There is also an allegation that there is a water-bore alongside the river bank. The water-bore comes under daily public convenience needs and is hardly 2 meters from our boundary towards the river side. A provision for this is available in the Government Act and this cannot come under the category of infringement. Yet, in order to prevent the dispute from aggravating further, we have removed it from that place.

5. It is also alleged that Ashram has illegally acquired and done constructions on the 15000 Square Meter area of land adjoining the Gurukul. This is also a totally false allegation. The reality is that the Gurukul Trust had asked two years ago, and prior to that, the Ashram Trust had asked for allotment of 12000 Square Meter land area. And each time, the Village Patwari has written in his report that this land is lying open, except that there is a drain in the west direction, on the slope of which, pitching has been done by constructing a retaining wall in order to prevent soil erosion. Further, trees of Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Tulsi & Peepal have been planted for environmental purification, which does not come under the category of infringement.

In order to avoid baseless allegations, we have done separate wire fencing on our land.

The remaining 3000 Square Meter land area is lying totally open on the river side, and we never had a possession over it, nor do we have it now. 

Due to the jealousy of one newspaper, allegations were malevolently initiated against us under pressure, which were further incited by other media agencies. This fact is understood better than us by the officers of the Revenue Department. 

All our construction work is ONLY on the land that has been allotted to us till date, and there are NO constructions outside it. This is clearly evident from all the photographs. 

Media In-charge 
 

Hon’ble Editor, 

Kindly publicize the information in this press note in your esteemed newspaper.