Rajkot: The Rajkot District Collector has ordered the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) organization to pay a fine of ₹13.13 lakh within 15 days for unauthorized construction and commercial use of land at Vavdi on Gondal Highway.

The property, developed under the name Premvati, includes a restaurant, hotel, garden, swimming pool, temple, office, and rooms. However, the land was originally allotted for industrial purposes, and no approvals were obtained for its conversion. Additionally, no fire safety NOC was secured.

Congress leaders Sanjay Lakhani and Krishna Dutt Rawal had filed a complaint alleging violations of non-agricultural(NA) land use and illegal construction. Following an investigation, both the Mamlatdar and the Provincial Officer confirmed the violations.

Hearing the case, Collector Dr. Om Prakash imposed a fine of ₹13.13 lakh, calculated as non-agricultural assessment charges at 65 paise per square meter, totaling ₹2.62 lakh per year for five years. The Collector also directed BAPS to obtain necessary approvals and sent a copy of the order to the Municipal Commissioner for action regarding the illegal construction and missing fire NOC.

Premvati Restaurant has been operational for nearly five years without mandatory permissions from the Collectorate, Municipal Corporation, or the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The site comprises 10 industrial plots spread across 10,099 square meters.

Authorities have now made it clear that the penalty must be deposited within 15 days, failing which further legal action could be taken. DeshGujarat