Lucknow, Aug 20 - Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Atul Gupta's head is on the chopping block over the Rs.4,721 crore Noida land scam, with Chief Minister Maywati expressing displeasure over the action against accused officials being delayed, official sources said Thursday.

Hotel plots at prime locations in the lucrative Noida, Delhi's satellite township, were sold to businessmen at throwaway prices during Gupta's tenure as industrial development commissioner.

Sixteen senior officers, including four belonging to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre, were suspended after the scam came to light. However, the chief minister is dissatisfied with the action taken.

On Aug 12, Mayawati asked Gupta to explain why action against the accused officials was held back for nearly two years when she had taken a decision to cancel the allotments more than two years ago.

'When the allotment was cancelled way back in the month of July, 2007, why was action not initiated against the officials who were prima facie involved in the irregularities that caused a loss of Rs.4,721 crores to the state exchequer?' Mayawati asked Gupta through a show-cause notice issued by principal secretary (industries) V.N. Garg.

Sources said Gupta's reply sent Thursday morning clarifies how he had nothing to do with the allotment process.