Question : Memorial on Morarji Desai

(a) whether the Government of Gujarat has requested the Ministry of Culture to pay Rs. 1 crore as compensation, which is being demanded by Ashram Gaushala Trust, Ahmedabad persistently towards land cost for acquiring Samadhi land- Abhay Ghat for building suitable memorial in the name of Ex-PM Late Shri Morarji Desai and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the action taken by the Government to acquire the Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala Trust land, on which Abhay Ghat in the memory of Late Shri Morarji Desai has been constructed;

(c) whether the Government has paid the amount to Gaushala Trust for the cost of land on which the Abhay Ghat memorial has been built; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (d): Birth centenary of Late Shri Morarji Desai was commemorated during the period from 29.2.1996 to 28.2.1997. Construction of memorial of Late Shri Morarji Desai was taken up as a commemoration activity. The construction work started in 1996 and was completed in 1999. The Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala Trust did not ask for the cost of the land at the time of construction of the memorial in 1996.

A proposal for payment of compensation towards land provided by Ashram Gaushala Trust, Ahmedabad for building a memorial in the name of Late Shri Morarji Desai was received in the Ministry for the first time in the year 2000. The proposal was examined at length and since the commemoration period had ended by then, the request could not be acceded to by the Ministry of Culture.