The Glade One project developed by B Safal is under the scannner for alleged environmental violations. While the project has secured environmental clearance for 242.83 acres, discrepancies in the advertised area have raised eyebrows. The official Glade One website claims a larger footprint of 270 acres, and B Safal’s corporate website goes even further, stating a massive 380 acres coverage area.

The discrepancies don’t end there. The golf course has been approved for only 39 acres, but promotional brochure showcases an 80-acre green expanse. 

It has come to light that a five-star hotel was constructed on the project site without any environmental approval. Additionally, it is reported that the company was allowed to operate this hotel without adhering to regulations.

B Safal has engaged in corruption to such an extent that by 31/03/2016, they had nearly completed the project before obtaining the environmental clearance certificate. During a meeting on 18/07/2014, the company was informed that no construction  should be done on the site before receiving approval. Despite written assurances from B Safal in this regard, the entire project was nearly complete by the time approval was granted. 

Company officials claim that only landscaping work was carried out at that time. However, Google Earth images from that time clearly show that construction work had been ongoing. 

There is concern among the public about what measures were taken by the authorities for the violation of SEAC regulations. Given that such a large area was consolidated for the project, it is natural for roads, pathways, government land, water bodies, and agricultural ponds to be present within this vast area. However, there is no mention or clarification about what happened to these lands. 

The Glade One Project falls under category 8(b), but no complete environmental clearance has been obtained for the current large-scale expansion. The company is misleading customers and possibly the government.

In 2016, the prominent B Safal Group obtained environmental clearance for the Glade One Project by misrepresenting gochar land (grazing land) in Sanand district as their own. In reality, this land was obtained from the government through a land exchange agreement on 25/11/2021.

According to the information, 3,946 square metres of government land in Survey Number 581 in Moge Nani Devati village, Sanand, was allocated to this private company despite negative opinions from local land revenue officer, deputy collector, and sub-divisional magistrate. 

The Deputy Collector’s letter dated 30/07/2020 clearly stated that in general circumstances, government land should not be allocated for industrial purposes unless absolutely necessary and if there are no other options for establishing industry. However, there are no provisions for land exchanges with private entities, which is why the application was denied by the land revenue officer of Sanand.

Government land trapped in the middle of the project

In the Glade One Project, a piece of government land measuring 3 541 square metres in Survey Number 1314/1 in Modasar village, Sanand, has been trapped like an island in the middle of the project. To access this land, even government officials must pass through private roads and obtain permission from private company security guards. The situation is such that new considerations are needed to access this high-value government land for any project.

Significant investment from politicians and officials

There are also reports of substantial investments from politicians and high-ranking government officials, including IPS and IAS officers, in the Glade One Project. Despite frequent demands for high-level investigations into regulatory violations, no action has been taken so far.

Builder’s office operating as Collector’s office?

The project was started on government land despite a note indicating that environmental approval would not be granted. This raises questions about how approvals, allocations, and environmental clearances were obtained in this case. It seems that the Ahmedabad District Collector’s office was operating from a builder B Safal’s office.

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