Congress accuses Uttarakhand CM of handing over government land, heritage properties to private parties

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Photo Credit: X/@pushkardhami via ANI

The Congress on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) accused Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of handing over government land and British-era heritage properties to private parties at throwaway prices, and alleged that Mr. Dhami had centralised decision-making powers to facilitate the transfers.

The Opposition party demanded Mr. Dhami’s removal and said it would approach the Governor and move the court if no action was taken.

At the centre of the State-wide agitation on Wednesday was the proposed transfer of the George Everest estate in Mussoorie, named after Sir George Everest, India’s first Surveyor-General, to private entities.

The estate was part of Uttarakhand’s historical and natural heritage, the Congress said, questioning the Uttarakhand government’s decision to transfer such a significant public asset to the hands of private players.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttarakhand, Kumari Selja, alleged that land and properties at nearly 40 locations across the State were being transferred to private entities, compromising public assets and the interests of the local people.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Ms. Selja claimed Mr. Dhami had taken away the final authority over land transfers from the Cabinet, and was personally approving major transactions while also chairing the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board.

Ms. Selja said 1,080 acres belonging to various government departments had been transferred to the Board via two decisions signed by the Chief Minister. These included 633 acres of the erstwhile Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited facility in Rishikesh, 142 acres in Mussoorie, 25 British-era inspection bungalows, and 190 acres at Dakpathar in Vikasnagar. Tenders had been issued for 14 acres at Patwa Dangar and the Alaknanda Hotel, the Congress leader said, alleging that the Patwa Dangar land was being offered at ₹5 per square metre annually. She also flagged the proposed transfer of forest land in Ramgarh.

The allegations came amid protests organised by the Congress across Uttarakhand under the ‘Bhumi Bachao, Dhami Hatao’ (save the land, remove Dhami) campaign. State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal led a demonstration against the transfer of the George Everest estate, alleging the government was compromising the State’s interests by handing over natural resources and public assets to private players.

Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat led the protest in Haridwar, alleging that the government was handing over heritage properties, including the Alaknanda Hotel, to favoured industrialists and land interests from outside the State. In Vikasnagar, Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh led a rally against the proposed transfer of around 180 acres at Dakpathar, associated with the Yamuna hydroelectric project, to private companies through the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board. He warned of a sustained agitation on the streets and in the Assembly.

A memorandum would be submitted to the Governor and judicial intervention sought, if necessary, the Congress said. Ms. Selja cited Section 28 of the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board Act, arguing that the monetisation of public property required the consent of the concerned departments and the State government.

Rejecting the charges, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Manveer Singh Chauhan said the government’s ownership of the land transferred to the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board would remain intact. The objective, he said, was to attract investment, generate employment and promote sustainable tourism, with the government retaining regulatory control and the right to reclaim the assets after a designated period.

(With inputs from PTI in Dehradun)

Published - November 04, 2026 10:10 pm IST