[CarrotAndStick]

You have a point. But remember land prices/ rentals have sky-rocketed in those parts of Gujarat, in recent times. There's money to be made (plenty) by leasing it out.

In Bangalore, the Church which holds huge amounts of British-handed city-centre prime real estate, leases land to commercial organisations on regular, renewable long-term basis. I don't know about Gujarat. I think it is similar there too.

The a-holes in the government should have allocated land to the relief centre elsewhere, at the minimum, in the interest of those whom it serves.

The local government has eminent domain provisions in Gujarat. The compensation issue is tricky considering the fact that most of such land was not confiscated post-Independence, contrary to other pre-Independence public properties.

[CarrotAndStick]

The compensation issue is tricky considering the fact that most of such land was not confiscated post-Independence, contrary to other pre-Independence public properties.

Especially the posessions of the rulers of the erst-while Princely States of India. Most temples come under them, and thus became government property automatically.

[Cronos]

In Bangalore, the Church which holds huge amounts of British-handed city-centre prime real estate

Not really -- the "Church" you refer to is the Church of South India which is affiliated to the Anglican Church. The Church referred to here is the CAtholic Church. Remember that the English were pretty anti-CAtholic, so they did not hand over things to the Catholic Church.

We BOTH may be right -- there would be a commercial AND demagogue aspect to this. Though, I think it will backfire on the Modi govt because no-one's going to think this is in any way good.