Relief for Subrata Roy: Aamby Valley unsealed after Sahara contests arrears claim

Pune: Sahara Group’s flagship project, Aamby Valley City, was sealed by the Maharashtra government for non-payment of non-agriculture taxes of around Rs 4.50 crore, an official said on Tuesday. However, it was later unsealed. [caption id=“attachment_2651200” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Aamby Valley City. Image courtesy: Sahara[/caption] A team of officials swooped on the township situated on the outskirts of the famous Lonavala hill station to seal the property’s main gates and its administrative sections. The back entrance had been kept open for the resort staffers and residents to enter and exit for the time being, an official said. The officials also served a notice to the resort authorities to clear the two-year-old dues by March-end, failing which the government would initiate legal proceedings. By Tuesday evening, however, the premises were unsealed, said Vivek Kumar, CEO, Aamby Valley and Hotel Sahara Star, after Sahara contested the sealing saying it was not in arrears as the payment is due only on 31 March. The main gates were then reopened. Aamby Valley, labelled a hill city paradise for the rich and famous, is spread across around 4,300 hectares of lush green hills with a large natural lake and three artificial lakes on the property in Pune district. Constructed in 2003, Aamby Valley boasts of a private airstrip, an 18-hole golf course, premium chateaus, villas and bungalows, shopping plazas, boating and a good all-year-round weather. With inputs from IANS