Bhupendra Singh Bhoj Seeks Transparency in Lease and PPP Projects
Almora: The Congress has questioned the Uttarakhand government’s policy of leasing valuable government land and properties and developing public assets through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
Almora District Congress President Bhupendra Singh Bhoj said government land is a public asset and decisions concerning its long-term lease or private development should be transparent and accountable.
Bhoj demanded that the government disclose details of the properties being leased, the duration of each lease, the companies or entities selected, the terms and conditions, the valuation of the properties and the revenue expected by the state.
He referred to the George Everest Estate in Mussoorie and raised questions over the leasing of around 142 acres of land and associated tourism facilities to a private operator for 15 years. A January 2026 Uttarakhand High Court judgment also records that 142 acres of the George Everest Estate had been leased to the successful bidder following a duly invited bidding process.
According to allegations raised by Congress leaders, the annual licence fee in the George Everest Estate arrangement is around Rs 1 crore. The party has questioned whether the economic value of the public property, the expected revenue and the financial justification of the arrangement were adequately assessed and disclosed.
Bhoj also raised questions about the role of the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB). The official UIIDB website states that the board was created to promote infrastructure development and Public-Private Partnerships in the state. Its land auction guidelines provide for leasing government land for specified projects, with leases in certain cases extending up to 90 years.
The Congress leader said that public assets in major destinations such as Mussoorie, Nainital, Haridwar and Rishikesh should be managed with long-term public interest and transparency in mind.
Bhoj urged the Chief Minister to make public all major proposals, tenders, valuations, lease amounts, lease periods, contractual conditions and details of beneficiary companies relating to government land and PPP projects.
He said the Congress would continue to demand transparency and accountability in the use of the state’s public land and properties.
