UP claims ownership of land Uttarakhand gave to Ramdev aide’s firm for adventure tourism

Co-founder of Patanjali and Ramdev's aide Acharya Balkrishna.

• UTDB controversy over Haridwar adventure tourism project land
• UP claims ownership of Bairagi Camp land, halting tourism project
• Tender canceled over land dispute and missing approvals

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The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), which has been already been mired in controversy for awarding  a one-year pilot project in adventure tourism to a firm owned by Patanjali co-founder Acharya Balkrishna, is now finding itself in more troubled waters.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the UTDB has only failed to get the land vacated by the adventure tourism firm, despite it being overdue for almost 20 months, the Uttar Pradesh government has claimed ownership of the land in Haridwar's Bairagi Camp.

The land parcel allotted to Rajas Aerosports and Adventure Pvt Ltd is 1,200 metres x 200 metres. The Uttarakhand tourism authority has sent multiple reminders and even warnings of taking a legal recourse to the firm.

A spokesperson for Rajas Aerosports and Adventure denied encroaching upon or illegally occupying any land and said the firm is “awaiting formal clarification and a reasoned decision from the (Uttarakhand) Government”.

According to the Indian Express, in April 2023, the UTDB proposed a one-year pilot project for the development of an airstrip of 700 metres at Bairagi Camp to “test the feasibility of aerosports in Uttarakhand...and explore the possibility of linking various airstrips in interior regions”. On June 1, Rajas Aerosports and Adventure sought permission to set up the project.

On September 4, 2024, Additional CEO of UTDB Ashvini Pundir, wrote to Rajas stating that the one year of the pilot project ended in June 2024, but the land had not yet been returned to the department.

“Therefore, you are hereby directed to immediately remove the prefabricated hangar from the land situated at Bairagi Camp, Haridwar, and ensure that the land is handed back forthwith to the Tourism Department,” he said.

On October 7, Rajas wrote back stating that they need permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to shift and sought a 45-day extension to dismantle the hangar.

On November 21, the day the extension ended, Pundir asked for the handover of the land. When the letter did not elicit a response, on November 28, the district tourism development officer warned of legal action for 'illegal occupation/encroachment upon government property' if the adventure tourism firm did not vacate the premises.

UP govt claims authority

Before the pilot came to an end in June 2024, the Uttarakhand tourism board floated a tender for the project on March 16, 2024. In June 2025, Camping Retreats of India Pvt Ltd and Rajas Aerosports and Adventures Pvt Ltd were considered, but the former was found non-compliant. With Rajas being the sole bidder remaining, the tender committee recommended floating a fresh tender.

In September 2025, the second request for proposal (RFP) was prepared and the tender was floated again. This time, five companies expressed interest. However, on September 30, the UTDB received a letter from the Uttar Pradesh government, which noticed the advertisement on the e-procurement portal. Uttar Pradesh's irrigation department said it owns the land at Bairagi Camp and that it comes under the control of the Upper Division Ganga Canal in Roorkee.

“This land is reserved for Kumbh Mela, Kanwar Mela, and other Ganga bathing festivals, and falls under the provisions of the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT). Any activity on this land without the permission of the Government of Uttar Pradesh is illegal,” said the UP irrigation department.

The UP irrigation department also requested to immediately cancel the invitation for proposals and ensure no activity is carried out on Kumbh Mela land without obtaining a no-objection certificate.

On October 9, the Director of Infrastructure, UTDB, wrote to the Haridwar District Magistrate seeking clarity on the ownership of the land. On December 9, instructions were issued to cancel the tender.

When contacted, Executive Engineer Northern Division, Ganga Canal, Roorkee, belonging to UP’s irrigation department, Vikash Tyagi, said

In 2021, it was decided between the Chief Ministers of the two states that the ownership of land in Haridwar, where Kumbh Mela is organised including the Bairagi Camp area, would remain with UP, but the authority to issue permissions for the Mela would be temporarily with Uttarakhand, said the Indian Express report quoting Vikash Tyagi, executive engineer (northern division), Ganga Canal, Roorkee, belonging to UP’s irrigation department

“Activities such as those proposed by the Uttarakhand government are prohibited as it is a floodplain zone. Permission is required, apart from the fact that the project needs to be viable. They didn’t get any approvals,” said Tyagi.