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Great Mumbai Land Grab Continues

CAG Says Govt,Collector Have No Database

Sharad Vyas TNN

Mumbai: The yet-to-be-tabled report of the Comptroller and Auditor General,which questions the suspect allotment of public land to institutions with links to senior politicians in Maharashtra,has also exposed rampant misuse of government land in Mumbai and the rest of the metropolitan region.It details several cases of land violations abetted by official ineptness,indifference or collusionthat caused a loss to the exchequer and made the income targets from state land use progressively decline.
The type of contraventions in Mumbai,according to the report,vary widely.They include irregularities in allotment of land for housing and education,and misuse of land allotted at concessional rates.Among them also are irregular permissions for redevelopment,subsidized land left vacant for years,short recovery of occupancy rates charged by the collector,needless waiver of licence fee,and non-recovery of lease rent.
Being a premium asset with increasing value,land management is to be dealt with judiciously.However,neither the government nor the Collector has any database of land, says the CAG report.
One of the glaring examples of official apathy highlighted in the CAG report is of a 22,844-sq-m piece of land in Kandivli that was allotted for setting up industrial units.Seventeen of these units changed hands many times but never was this information collated by the concerned departments.This failure led to the non-recovery of Rs 36.31 crore since the government is entitled to 50% of the sale value of an allotted land,also called unearned income.There was no operational failure on our part but just a short delay, said an official from the collectors office on Thursday.
The report also says that 532.78 hectares of subsidized land given to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in nine districts,including Mumbai,has been lying vacant for periods ranging from four to 22 years.Besides this,land measuring 447 hectares granted to five other state corporations have also been lying vacant.The CAG noted that these plots could have been made available to the government for other welfare measures instead.
Among other cases in the report is the non-realization of rent of Rs 17.6 crore from six lessees in Bandra,Chembur,Kurla,Kandivli and Juhu.

7 COSTLY LAPSES IN BID FOR PROVERBIAL PLOT OF GOLD

On Thursday,TOI detailed the role of powerful Maharashtra ministers in enabling inappropriate allotment,use and management of land as recorded by CAG.Today we bring you more cases from the auditors report that show how through apathy,indiscretion or outright criminal collusion,Mumbai is systematically being robbed of its land and the state of its legitimate revenues

1 Mumbai collector failed to recover 1,004 sq m plot at Mazagaon after 99-year lease expired.Instead gave permission for lessee to redevelop land

2 533 hectares of land granted for industrial purpose by MIDC in nine districts (including Mumbai) lay idle for 4-22 years.447 ha granted to five other state corporations also lying vacant

3 36 crore loss to state as 17 units allotted for an industrial estate in Kandivli changed hands many times without the collector or government being notified

4 Govt land measuring 543 sq m allotted on 30-year lease to one Dr S R Pawar for a dispensary at Kurla.Only 110 sq m was utilized;three shops and 17 residential flats were constructed on the rest

5 Loss of 17.6 crore as collector failed to renew land lease agreements in six cases in Bandra,Chembur,Kurla,Kandivli,Juhu in 2004-09

6 Govt waived penalty from Khar Gymkhana for using its hall for non-sports activities

7 Allotment-cancellation of leasehold land for Otters Club at Andheri caused a loss of 58 lakh as interest

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Report will be tabled,says chief minister Chavan

The CAG report also points out that the state needlessly waived off the licence fee in the case of Khar Gymkhana: the government was supposed to recover Rs 39 lakh as penalty from the management but it requested for only Rs 4.57 lakh.This was arbitrary,the CAG says.Furthermore,inappropriate conversion of land handed over to Otters Club resulted in a loss of Rs 58 lakh to the state.
The unreleased CAG report rocked the state legislative assembly on Wednesday as the opposition asserted that it indicted at least 10 senior politicians and cabinet ministers for their direct or indirect role in inappropriate land allotment,use and management.The opposition demanded that the government table the report in the House immediately.A point of procedure was moved by the BJPs Devendra Phadanvis,alleging that largesse was doled out by the government to institutions run by ministers or their relatives.
Taking serious note of the leaked report,Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Thursday that due procedure will be followed when the report is tabled in the assembly.A copy of the CAG report came to me yesterday.The government will take it to the cabinet and due procedure will be followed.Later,it will be tabled in the assembly, he said.

Admin · Guru

Govt may tax vacant land to fund infra projects

Mahendra Kumar Singh TNN

New Delhi: The government is considering a vacant land tax to check largescale hoarding of land and generate resources to revamp crumbling infrastructure in cities.
The Planning Commissions steering group has suggested that the new tax be based on ready reckoner capital value and be charged at 0.5% of the total value of the land.In its draft proposal,the group has suggested imposing the tax on vacant government land too.
It has come to notice that many developers use vacant land for speculative purposes.They buy land and keep it vacant waiting for real estate prices to escalate, an official of the urban development ministry said,explaining the reason for the proposal.The official said the funds raised through this tax would help municipal authorities fund infrastructure projects and ensure affordable housing and better sanitation and drinking water facilities in cities and towns.
Southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have taken the lead and are already collecting such taxes in their cities,while others like Punjab and Bihar are considering imposing a similar tax to curb hoarding and check spiralling property prices.Such taxes are common in many developing countries.
These measures have checked soaring real estate prices and an acute housing shortage, an official said.

Admin · Guru

WITH PARTYMEN ON MAT,CM SAFE

As CAG Report Points Fingers At Senior Congress Leaders,Threat To Prithviraj Chavans Leadership Dissipates

Prafulla Marpakwar | TNN

The searching lights of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG),the courts and the CBI might have tarred the reputations of many Congress leaders but for one man they have had an upshot.The recent scrutiny on his party colleagues mean that the threats to chief minister Prithviraj Chavans leadership in the state have got dulled,putting him firmly in the saddle.
For Congress,its a bad political situation.But in the process,Chavan has emerged more powerful than ever before, a senior Congress minister said on Thursday.
Former CM Vilasrao Deshmukh,who is now the Union minister for science and technology,has been in the contention to regain the throne in Maharashtra for long.His argument has unwaveringly been that he had to step down in the wake of the worst-ever terror attack on Mumbai and because of an NCP strategy.But his aspirations to return to state politics now appear bleaker than ever.The apex court on Wednesday passed strictures against him for allotting 20 acres of land at Film City in Goregaon to Subhash Ghai-owned Mukta Arts at throwaway prices.A CAG report leaked on the same day reportedly criticized him for allotting a prime piece of land worth Rs 30 crore to Manjra Charitable Trust for Rs 6 crore.He has also been pulled by the high court in the past for allegedly issuing instructions to the Buldhana district superintendent of police to not take action against a local moneylender.A metropolitan magistrate court has now ordered a probe against Deshmukh in the same case.
Ashok Chavan,who is another aspirant for the CMs post,is in deep trouble as well.His name figures in the first information report filed in the Adarsh scam.Most of the 14 accused in the case have been arrested by the CBI and speculation is rife whether Chavan will be detained.
The scam has also,in a manner,singed Union power minister Sushilkumar Shinde,who too is keen to return to state politics.During Shindes tenure as CM,the Adarsh file was processed and approvals granted in record time.RTI activists have demanded that both Deshmukh and Shinde be added to the list of the accused people.
Among other high-profile Congress leaders,industries minister Narayan Rane,forest minister Patangrao Kadam and agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil also aspire for the chief ministers post.But,since they too are reportedly under the scrutiny of the CAG,it appears that their ambition may not be realized for a while.
According to the yet-to-bereleased CAG report,these leaders secured pieces of lands at nominal prices for trusts that allegedly have links with them.For instance,according to reports,1,719.5 sq m at Kankavli worth Rs 6.68 crore was allotted at a concessional lease of Rs 10,712 to Sindhudurg Shikshan Prasarak Mandal,which,Shiv Sena MLC Ramdas Kadam claims,is patronised by Rane.Similarly,Kadams Bharati Vidyapeeth was allotted 19,200 sq m at concessional rate despite its market value being Rs 4.8 crore.Same was the case with a trust floated by Vikhe-Patil : it was allotted 5,596 sq m land in Pune for Rs 17 lakh though its market value was Rs 91 lakh.
Leader of opposition Eknath Khadse said that,in view of the CAG report,the government should revoke the allotments of land.Prima facie,it appears that there were blatant violations of lease conditions and gross misuse of power by then chief minister and cabinet members.Under such circumstances,the current chief minister should cancel the allotments of land and restore the ownership to the government, Khadse said.

Admin · Guru

A VIOLATION TOO MANY IN MUMBAI

WHILE THE CAG REPORT DETAILS LAND VIOLATION AND MISUSE ACROSS MAHRASHTRA,THE CASES ARE CONCENTRATED IN MUMBAI AND THE REST OF THE MMR

Non-realization of rent in Mumbai

Six properties in Bandra,Chembur,Kurla,Kandivli & Juhu expired 2004-2009.Collectors failure to renew the agreement has resulted in the non-realization of rent amounting to Rs 17.6 cr

Khar Gymkhana gets away lightly

LOSS |

Rs 34.43 lakh CASE | In the case of Khar Gymkhana,the state government needlessly waived the license fee.The state was supposed to recover Rs 39 lakh as penalty from the management but it requested for only Rs 4.57 lakh.This was arbitrary,the CAG said.To quote the report: This recovery is not understandable.

Vacant land at MIDC

LAND AREA |

53.27lakh sq m (532.78 hectares) CASE | Land given to MIDC and spread over nine districts across the state including Mumbai are lying vacant.They have been unutilized for varying
periods of time
from four to 22
years.
| In addition,land
measuring 447
hectares in Mumbai and Maharashtragranted to five other state corporationshave been lying vacant.This could have been made available to the government for other welfare measures instead,says the CAG

Industrial estate at Kandivli

LAND AREA |

22,844 sq m CASE| The huge tract of land was sanctioned for industrial units at an Industrial Estate in Kandivli on October 22,1961.But 17 units in it changed hands many times,but neither the government nor the collector was not notified Loss incurred | Non-recovery of the unearned income of Rs 36.31 cr.The state was entitled to 50% of the unearned income (Rs 36 cr) according to the ready reckoner of 2011

Kurla land misused for commercial purposes

LAND AREA |

543 sq m CASE |The land was allotted on a lease of 30 years to one Dr S R Pawar for the purpose of construction and running a dispensary at Kurla.But the CAG report found that of the total land only 110 sq m was utilized.Instead 3 shops and 17 residential flats were constructed on the rest of the land.Some of these were sold for Rs 1.56 cr in 2008.The amount was neither recovered for unauthorized construction nor has the land has been resumed by the state

Costly delay to Otters Club at Andheri

LAND AREA |

4,180 sq m CASE | The collector in 2001 sanctioned the conversion of leasehold land into outright purchase to Otters Club at Andheri.The club paid Rs 2 crore for occupancy price for the land.But the allotment was cancelled by the government,which directed that the club be given a refund.The payment was delayed for four years,this led to the government shelling out an extra Rs 58 lakh as interest

Irregular redevelopment at Mazgaon

LAND AREA |

1,004 sq m CASE | The plot of land at survey no.7/138 in Mazgaon was allotted on a 99-year lease for to one Anandrao Vinayak.But even when the lease expired on October 1,1992,the collector instead of resuming land granted permission for redevelopment.This land CAG said virtually fell under the control of the lessee without paying any revised rent for a long period

Admin · Guru

E Y E O F T H E S TO R M

VILASRAO DESHMUKH (Cong)

Land measuring 23,840 sq m at Borivli was allotted in 2005 to Manjra Charitable Trust at a concessional rate for opening a dental college.The trust paid Rs 6.56 cr as occupancy price.The market value of the land was Rs 30.37 cr (ready recokner 2006).Possession was given to the trust,of which Deshmukh is the patron,in 2006.The CAG found that the collector while making the allotment omitted the mandatory condition that completion of work should be done in two years.

CHHAGAN BHUJBAL (NCP)

PWD and tourism minister,also Guardian minister for Nashik | As per a government memorandum dated January 7,2009,land measuring 50,000 sq m at Mauja-Goverdhan in Nashik was allotted to the Mumbai Education Trust (MET) for a medical and engineering college at occupancy price of Rs 7.53 lakh.This was in addition to an earlier allotment made in 2003 of 41,300 sq m land at Rs 1.55 lakh.These plots were reserved for mining activity,but the reservation was changed to education.The allotment was made to Bhujbals nephew Sameer.The market value (as per ready reckoner of 2008) was Rs 9.39 crore but the land was allotted at Rs 9.08 lakh

PATANGRAO KADAM (Cong)

Forest minister | Bhartiya Vidhyapeeth Trust,patronized by Kadam,was allotted 19,200 sq m of land at Lohgaon in Pune in 2004 at a concessional rate.The market rate was Rs 4.8 cr as per the ready reckoner of 2004.The land is lying vacant.Kadam established the Bharati Vidyapeeth in 1964 when he was 20 years old.The trusts website said that from the beginning,his vision was to develop it as a distinct institution

RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE-PATIL (Cong)

Irrigation minister | Vikhe-Patil Foundation,a public trust patronized by him,allotted 5,596 sq m for a degree college in Pune.The foundation was established in 1980.The land was allotted at concessional rate of Rs 17 lakh;its market value is Rs 91 lakh

NARAYAN RANE (Cong)

Industries & ports minister | Around 1,719 sq m of land at Kankavli was allotted to the Sindhudurg Shikshan Prasarak Mandal,patronized by Rane.This claim was made by Shiv Sena MLC Ramdas Kadam.It was given at an annual concessional lease of Rs 10,712 for charity.A four-storey building came up,with a banquet and conference hall.Actual cost of land was Rs 6.68 cr

Admin · Guru

Film City issues notice to Ghai

Radha Rajadhyaksha & Bharati Dubey | TNN

The Film City studio has issued a notice to Subhash Ghai to return 14.5 acres of land immediately,its MD Shyam Tagde told TOI.The school entrance too might need to be shifted,and studio security personnel will be stationed at its gates.Ghai,on his part,has decided to approach the Maharashtra government.We will ask why we are being punished so heavily, he says.
The likelihood of Subhash Ghais Whistling Woods International (WWI) having to move out of its Film City campus in the wake of the SC order has left both students and faculty dismayed.The institute has given several professionals to the film industry in the last six years.
Industry professionals argue that the school serves a vital purpose.The one thing the film industry always needed is a dedicated education in film-making, says Anjum Rajabali,noted screenwriter and head of the department of screenwriting.The old system of apprenticeship is just not sufficient in an industry which has grown so immensely.WWI was conceived for that need.While FTII in Pune and SRFTI in Kolkata,both run by the government,are options for film students,WWI is the only full-fledged film school in Mumbai,the core of the Indian film industry.Also,FTII takes in only a few students from thousands of applicants, says Surendra Pratap,who works with Fox Star Studio.I think the government should step in and help save WWI.The general view that the indifference is on account of this being a film school is echoed in some measure by veteran audiographer and WWI faculty member Rakesh Ranjan.I am saddened to see that we are not taken seriously, he says.WWI is a centre of learning.I feel a lenient view shouldve been taken in this case.
Students are also dismayed.Sound engineer Rajith Malhotra says he has been able to make a mark in only six years whereas earlier it took 15 years to get a proper break.As a student,I interacted with the best of talent from around the world, he says.Indeed,many students got their break,as it were,while studying at WWI.While direction student Karan Butani is directing his first feature for Tigmanshu Dhulia based on his diploma film,Ranjan Ghosh,now screenwriting faculty,wrote the screenplay for Iti Mrinalini in collaboration with Aparna Sen as part of the course.No other institute has an assigned screenplay (working with a producer) in the syllabus, he says.

Admin · Guru

Ghais planned institute in Hyd under scanner

Hyderabad: Filmmaker Subhash Ghais planned film institute is facing trouble in Andhra Pradesh.The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has rapped the state government over the allotment of 20.1 acres of prime land for the institute in suspected breach of rules.
The CAG,in its latest report on land allotments in the state related to the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy governments tenure,found the allotment for Whistling Woods International Limited (WWIL) in violation of AP Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules 1960. The plot lies adjacent to a protected monument called Premamati Mosque at Ibrahimbagh village under Golconda mandal in Hyderabad district.
The lands allotment is already caught in a case in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.The court had in January 2010 suspended the state order (dated August 19,2009) giving the land to Ghai.Though the case is pending disposal,the government is said to be reviewing the allotment in light of the court order and the CAG observation,officials in the revenue department said.
While the market value of the land was assessed by the Hyderabad district collector at Rs 4.84 crore per acre,the government allotted the land at Rs 2 crore per acre.The lease rent was fixed at 0.2 per cent of the market value at which the land was allotted (Rs 2 crore per acre) for the first three years, the CAG report noted.
The allotment was made through APIIC for establishing a world-class training institute of film,television,animation and media arts.This was followed by a lease agreement in October 2009,between APIIC and WWIL,for allotment of 17.01 acres to WWIL for a tenure of 66 years,renewable for a further period of 30 years, it said.
From the fourth year,the lease rent was to be enhanced to 1% of the market value.The agreement allowed WWIL to exercise an option to purchase the land at a concessional rate of Rs 2 crore per acre after 10 years,duly adjusting the lease rentals paid by that time,the report said.
The government,thus,gave undue benefit to WWIL, it said,by charging half the actual market value of the land and by giving the option for purchasing it 10 years later at the same rate irrespective of the appreciation of land value.Further,allotment of land in a protected area for commercial purposes violated government rules, it said.
The audit revealed that at the time of alienating the land,government had already decided to sign an MoU with Iran for taking up the restoration and conservation of the monuments adjacent to this land, the CAG noted.AGENCIES

UNHAPPY DAYS: A day after Ghais Whistling Woods in Mumbai (above) faced the apex courts ire,CAG rapped the Andhra Pradesh government for allotting land to the filmmaker

Admin · Guru

P O L I T I CA L R E AC T I O N

Send them to jail: Raut

If the CAG report in Parliament leads to a Union minister being sent to Tihar Jail,the same logic should apply to the report in Maharashtra

Sanjay Raut | SHIV SENA MP

BJP demands Deshmukhs resignation

He has no moral authority to be in cabinet.If he doesnt step down,the PM should remove him

Nirmala Sitharaman | BJP SPOKESPERSON

Compiled by untrained officers: NCP MLA

The leaking of the report is a cowardly act by the opposition to embarrass the government.CAG report could have easily been discussed in the PACo.The report is complied by untrained and lower level accounts officers,who need to be monitored effectively

Nawab Malik | NCP MLA

Due procedure will be followed: CM

The copy of the CAG report has come to me yesterday (Wednesday).The government will take it to the Cabinet and due procedure will be followed.Later it will be tabled in the assembly Prithviraj Chavan | MAHARASHTRA

CHIEF MINISTER

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IN SOUP
HC admits PIL,Bhujbal faces trouble

Swati Deshpande TNN

Mumbai: The Bombay high court will hear a PIL alleging that Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbals trust,which runs the Bhujbal Knowledge City in Nashik,defrauded students and government into paying excess fees to the tune of Rs 8 crore in two years since 2010.
The PIL alleges that Bhujbal and his Mumbai Educational Trust (MET) institute defrauded the Shikshan Shulk Samiti the government committee that sets fees for private professional institutes.It has demanded quashing of the fees,returning excess amounts to students,suspending the trustees and appointing an administrator.
The PIL filed by former freedom fighter Balasaheb Jhambulkar has dragged the 64-yearold minister,NCP strongman and founder trustee of MET along with his wife Meena,son Pankaj,nephew Sameer,cofounder of MET Sunil Karve,the fee committee and the Mumbai Charity Commissioner to court.
The committee fixes fees based on valid and permitted educational expenses actually incurred by privately run institutes in the previous accounting year.The PIL alleges that the trust running four Nashik institutes of management,polytechnic,engineering and pharmacy fraudulently showed inflated amounts as expenses when there were none.The trust thus misled the committee into fixing higher fees.
The PIL alleges that Bhujbals trust cheated not only the government and students but also the Maharashtra governments Social Welfare Department,which pays the fees for SC/ST students and half the amount for OBC students.
The petitioner says he wrote to the government on March 12 but when he got no response,he moved the court by the month-end.
The Bhujbal Knowledge City showed over Rs 4.6 crore allegedly not related to management courses as expenses between 2010-12 for its Institute of Management,the PIL says,resulting in fees of Rs 1.15 lakh in 2011-12 instead of Rs 83,000.It recovered an excess amount of Rs 1.5 crore from its students,the petitioner alleged and finds it shocking that an institute led by a cabinet minister is taking students and the state for a ride.
The government has issued a resolution especially to protect students from being asked to fork out exorbitant fees by private professional institutes run by charitable trusts for their profit.Only expenses approved by the All India Council for Technical Education and the UGC are considered for fee fixation.

Admin · Guru

6 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
HT Correspondent letters@hindustantimes.com

Deshmukh lands in another scam

UMBAI: Following a series of embarrassments over questionable land allotments in Maharashtra during his tenure as chief minister, union science and technology minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is under pressure to quit.

As the Opposition demanded Deshmukh’s resignation, senior Congress leaders left the decision to the party high command.

On Wednesday, Deshmukh was rapped by the Supreme Court over the allotment of government land in Mumbai to film training school Whistling Woods, which belongs to filmmaker Subhash Ghai.

The same day, a leaked CAG report on preferential land allotments in Maharashtra indicted Deshmukh for allotting a plot in Mumbai’s Borivili to his Manjra Charitable Trust. The 23,840-sq-m plot, with a market value of R30.37 crore, was allotted at R6.56 crore to set up a dental college, the report said.

As then chief minister, Deshmukh made the allotment. “While scrutinising records, it was noticed that out of four applicants, the chief minister had approved the application of Manjra Charitable Trust for allotment… without assigning any specific reasons for the preferential allotment,'' said the report.

Even so, till 2011, no construction had been started at the site. “I will not comment as the report has not yet been tabled,” Deshmukh told the media. “I am sure I have not been named in the report.”

Deshmukh also awaits court verdict in at least three more cases — two land allotments in his hometown Latur, and Mumbai’s Adarsh society scam, in which he is accused of changing reservation of land on which a multi-storied tower was built by politicians, bureaucrats and defence officials.

Admin · Guru

6 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Politicians grabbed prime land’

IRREGULARITIES Leaked CAG report says land in Maharashtra was allotted at concessional rates to cabinet ministers

MUMBAI:

The Comptroller and Auditor General has found blatant misuse of land allotments made in the state over the last two decades by politicians and bureaucrats. At least five senior ministers have cornered prime plots for their own trusts and housing societies.

On Wednesday, a storm of allegations broke out in the state assembly after the CAG report, which is yet to be officially tabled, was leaked to the media.

The CAG is believed to have named former CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, cabinet ministers Narayan Rane, Chhagan Bhujbal, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Patangrao Kadam for alleged irregularities.

In the legislative council, Shiv Sena legislator Ramdas Kadam said the trust controlled by Deshmukh has been indicted for getting prime land in Borivili at a concessional rate for setting up a dental college.

“The trust was favoured above three other applicants,” Kadam said. “After six years, no construction has been made on this plot and it should have been taken back by the government.”

Mumbai Education Trust, related to Bhujbal, got land at a concessional rate in Nasik to set up an engineering college, Kadam said. The application for the allotment was made by NCP MP Sameer Bhujbal.

The CAG report said: “It is pertinent to mention that the allottee was the nephew of then PWD minister from whose charge the land was transferred. Thus, there was an apparent conflict of interest.”

Kadam mentioned other irregularities while allotting land in 1991 and 2004 at concessional rates to Sindhudurg Prasarak Mandal for setting up a community centre.

Rane, however, said there is nothing to prove that he is directly related to the trust. “This is much ado about nothing. Such concessions have been given to all educational institutes,” he said.

The report has also pointed out that land allotted to Vikhe Patil was given at a concessional rate of lakh, instead of

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lakh.

Admin · Guru

6 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
Letters@hindustantimes.com

Sack Deshmukh immediately: BJP

The BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Union science and technology minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for his alleged involvement in illegal land allotment to a prominent movie producer. The party said the PM should sack him if he doesn’t step down.

“Deshmukh has no moral authority to continue in office. He should step down immediately,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

She said a CAG report yet to be tabled in the Maharshtra Assembly had reportedly found Deshmukh involved in land allotment to “select NGOS” and a media baron, and added that the Supreme Court had also spoken against the minister.

Deshmukh had allegedly favoured filmmaker and producer Subash Ghai by alloting him land allegedly at throwaway prices for a film academy.

Sitharaman said Deshmukh should resign and then clear his name in this as well as the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi, however, said: “Let the report be tabled in the state assembly and then we will react.”

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Deshmukh has the party’s full support. Congress managers argue that the leadership will not demand resignation from a minister merely on the basis of a CAG report. The party cited the BJP’S inaction on CAG reports on Gujarat and Chhattisgarh and also Bihar, where the auditor had indicted the state governments.

Admin · Guru

6 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
Dharmendra Jore

STATE STARTS PROCESS TO RECOVER GHAI LAND

MUMBAI:

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the state has initiated the process to recover land from film training institute, Whistling Woods International, run by filmmaker Subhash Ghai.

Shyam Tagde, a bureaucrat in charge of Film City in Goregaon, where the institute is located, said he sent a letter to the institute after Wednesday’s verdict. “I wrote a letter to Whistling Woods on Wednesday evening asking it to return the land and spoke to its chief executive officer,” said Tagde. “The institute said it would cooperate.”

The state will initially recover 14.5 acres of the 20 acres. “I have asked the suburban collector to depute officers to demarcate the land,” Tagde said.

The remaining 5.5 acres of land, on which the institute is built, can be retained till May 2014, the court has said.

Tagde said the officials need three to four days to demarcate the land to be recovered, for which the measuring of land may start on Saturday.

Culture minister Sanjay Deotale, whose department entered into the deal with Ghai during Vilasrao Deshmukh’s tenure, said he had not received a certified judgment copy. “Let us see the judgment first.”

The state has been very cautious in this case and did not appeal against the high court’s February 9 directive. Deshmukh and Ghai had moved the apex court.

The lawsuit was filed by Rajendra Sontakke and four others from Latur and Osmanabad accusing Deshmukh of “gross abuse of power” while allotting the land to Ghai.

Admin · Guru

Another CAG report nails ex-CM Vilasrao

In The Dock for Misusing Land In Versova

Sandeep Ashar TNN

Mumbai: The yet-to-be tabled CAG report detailing the allotment and misuse of prime property at Borivli by the Manjara Charitable Trust (MCT),may not be the only largesse extended to the trust,founded by former Maharashtra chief minister and Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.
A recent RTI query,filed by civic activist Rajesh Mangela before the suburban collectors office,has revealed that the trust was allotted 43,300 sq ft land in Versova at an occupancy rate of less than Rs 7 per sq /ft by the state revenue and forest department (R&F) in 1994.At the time,Deshmukh was holding the revenue portfolio.A huge 1.55 lakh sq /ft (1.4 hectare ) plot was also allotted to the trust on a 15-year lease at an annual rent of Rs 63,945.
The R&F allotted the plot on January 29,1994,on the condition that it will be used to develop a secondary school in Marathi medium.The adjoining 1.55 lakh sq ft plot was reserved for a school playground.Both the plots abut the Versova creek and fall in the coastal regulation zone (CRZ-II ).But the trust did not adhere to the original conditions and instead used the plot for an engineering college,the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.Seven years later,in 2001,the urban development department under Deshmukh sanctioned a modification to the use of the plot,but the suburban collector (properties custodian ) said it was not notified.The land for the playground lies unused even today.
The R&F opted to allot the land to MCT even though 14 other trusts and educational institutions had previously applied for the allotment.In 1994,when opposition raise the issue of preferential treatment,the government cited MCTs plans of setting up a Marathi-medium school as a reason for preferring it over others.
Vilasraos son,Amit Deshmukh,who is the executivechairman of MCTsaid : I will not comment on these allegations as I will have to refer to all the details. Neither Vilasrao Deshmukh nor his brother Dilipraowho is MCTs former chairman-responded to TOIs calls.
On February 4,1994,the suburban collector and MCT entered into an agreement,where the trust agreed that it would not deviate from the intended purpose of allotment and complete construction work for the school within two years.No modification without prior written consent from the collector was permissible.But the trust set up the institute without informing the collector,construction work carried on for eight years and the MCT did not pay any additional amount,as sought by the collector,for not using the land for the original purpose.
In 2004,three years after the reservation was modified,the collector submitted a report demanding the recovery of the additional amount as the land was not used for the original purpose of setting up a Marathi-medium school.The amount sought was 50% of the market value of the plot as of January 1,1989.But the RTI documents contain no information to suggestthatthiswasimposed by the government.
Further,while the construction work was expected to be completed within two yearsFebruary 3,1996it went on till January 2004,eight years beyond the deadline.In 2000,the collector informed the government that no extension had been sought for completion of work.

HOW THE PLOT UNFOLDED

A 43,000 sqft plot allotted for less than Rs 7 per sqft for a Marathi-medium school to Vilasrao Deshmukhs family-run Manjara Charitable Trust in 1994
It got plot reservation modified without the collectors consent and used it for an engineering college.At that time,Deshmukh held revenue portfolio
Construction work was to be completed before February 3,1996.It went on till 2004.No extension permission was sought
For six years between 1994 and 2000,lease rent for playground was not paid

Trust set up Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology on a plot meant for a school

Admin · Guru

8 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
Neha Sharma
neha.sharma@hindustatimes.com

GHAI’S TERRIBLY ANGRY

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai is terribly angry and hurt. Reacting to the Supreme Court upholding the Bombay High Court order quashing the 20 acre land allotted to his film school Whistling Woods International in Film city, Mumbai, he says, “I am very hurt. I feel that my dedication has been abused. My students are depressed, hurt and angry because their career is at stake.”

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On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had pulled up former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for giving 20 acres of land to Ghai in 2004 for his film institute. The court said: “One cannot be treated as a blueeyed boy for whom rules can be bent or bypassed to give away land of the state.”

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Ghai defends: “People are viewing this as some sort of a scam. If I had been a blueeyed boy, I would have set up a multiplex or a mall. Why would I open a school? A blue-eyed boy should be worth R2,000 crore, and not running into losses. Everyone had warned me saying it is a risky proposal ... nuksaan hoga, but I did it,” he says. Ghai also trashes rumours that favours were exchanged between him and Deshmukh, including his 2006 film, Apna Sapna Money Money Money, starring Deshmukh’s son, Riteish Deshmukh. “Unka beta hero bana tha 2000 mein. I cast him in 2006 ... I have been victimised in this political crossfire. All political leaders, policy makers and the government concerned should have told me to stop and relocate in 2000. Why did they have to wait 10 years for this?” On his equation with Deshmukh, he says, “Maine ek paise ka bhi dhanda nahi kiya hai in logon ke saath. They are friends just as they’re friends of Yash Raj or Ashutosh Gowariker.” The filmmaker says he has learnt his lesson: “The incoming government undoes what the last government had done.” As per the high court order, Ghai was required to pay the market rent at an annual rate of R5.3 crore for the 20-acre land from 2000 — retrospectively. His total financial losses would thus be R105 crore, inclusive of the R45- crore loss that the institute has run into. The land was allotted to him after a joint venture between his film studio, Mukta Arts, and the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation.

Admin · Guru

TOWER OF DECEIT
Adarsh commission to submit its interim report to govt today

Shibu Thomas TNN

Mumbai : The judicial commission on Adarsh will submit its interim report to the Maharasahtra government on Friday,more than a year after it was set up to probe how the building came up in Colaba.Justice (retired ) J A Patil and member P Subrahmanyam on Thursday said the reportwouldbe given in a sealed envelope.
With the report out of its way,the panel is all set to summon top politicians and bureaucrats,including former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh,Sushil Kumar Shinde and Ashok Chavan.Officers who will testify later this month include chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad and additional chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya.On May 11,the panel will decide when to call the first batch of politicians,including Chavan,while Deshmukh and Shinde are scheduled to be informed about their appearance dates on May 23.
The interim report,likely to be submitted to the chief secretarys office,will answer two of the 13 questions before the commission : Who was the owner of the land that was allotted to Adarsh Society in 2004 And,was the land meant for housing war heroes and Kargil war widows The chief minister can then place the interim report before the state assembly.The state has spent around Rs 1.5 crore on the commission,including fees for its lawyers.
The state government hopes that its ownership claim will be upheld by the commission.A finding in the states favour will help the governmentwhich is battling a seriesof allegationsof illegal land allotmentsgiving it some ammunition to take on its detractors.According to the government,maps dating back to 1816 do not show the existence of BlockVIin Colaba,wherethe Adarsh land is located.The land,the state said,was under water and was reclaimed in the 1970 s.However,the state has not submitted any document of proof.Further,property documents pertaining to the landincluding a property card and a city survey number,were prepared in 2004,after the plot was allotted to Adarsh.
The defence ministry has said the land was in its possession since the 1940 s.It has relied on a 1957 survey map that shows a sliver of land from Block VI to Dhobi Ghat,whichitsaysisthelocation of the Adarsh land.The ministrys strongest evidence is in the form of the minutes of a 1989 meeting,where it is mentioned that the land was in the possession of the military.Adarsh Society itself in earlier letters to the state wrotethatthelandwasin the armys possession for the last 20 to 30 years.The ministry,however,does not have any documents to show that the land was in its possession.But it is an admitted fact before the commission that the army was maintaining a park there.

Tiwari & Phataks custody extended

A special CBI court on Thursday extended the police custody of former Mumbai civic chief Jairaj Phatak and former Maharashtra information commissioner Ramanand Tiwari till April 17 in connection with their roles in the Adarsh scam.Special public prosecutor Bharat Badami told the court that during interrogation,Tiwari did not disclose the circumstances under which the NOC on behalf of the Union environment ministry was conveyed to the BMC and Phatak did not reveal how the increased height of Adarsh was regularized without referring the matter back to the high-rise committee.Badami also said the CBI had collected vital evidence,which required custodial interrogation of the accused.TNN

Admin · Guru

MMRDA: Hiranandani has only 6.6 acres of vacant land

This May Not Be Enough To Build 3,100 Affordable Flats In Powai

Shibu Thomas | TNN

Mumbai: Only 6.64 acres of vacant land is available in Hiranandani Powai,the MMRDA has revealed in its report submitted before the Bombay high court on Thursday.
Activists have expressed doubts whether Hiranandani will be able to construct 3,100 affordable flats,as ordered by the high court,on the vacant land available with the builder.To build 3,100 flats the developer needs at least 12-15 acres of vacant land, activist Simpreet Singh told TOI.
In addition,construction rights in the form of TDR and FSI to the tune of 86,447 sq m (9,30,508 sq ft) are available with Hiranandani in the area.This includes unutilized TDR and FSI granted in lieu of Development Plan road of 30,373 sq m (3,26,932 sq ft) and 16,775 sq m (1,80,564 sq ft),respectively,according to the MMRDA.
Plans for five buildings,with a total available space of of 39,299 sq m (4,23,010 sq ft),were approved but not constructed.Besides,reservation for a community centre and a maternity home with 3,514 sq m (37,824 sq ft) space is also available,the report prepared by the MMRDA points out.
The report is scheduled to be taken up for hearing on April 19.
Hearing a bunch of PILs,the HC had in February restrained Hiranandani from starting any construction on the remaining area of the over 200-acre Powai land without the courts permission.
The MMRDA was asked to submit a report on the status of vacant land in Powai.Hiranandani was meant to sell flats of 431 sq ft or 861 sq ft.Instead,adjacent flats were sold to members of the same family,such as husband and wife,father and son or father and daughter,and then amalgamated to form flats of 1,800-4,000 sq ft.
Hiranandani was directed to construct 3,100 affordable houses1,593 flats of around 861 sq ft and 1,511 of 430 sq ftafter obtaining permission from the court.Around 450 flats from this lot would have to be offered to the state at Rs 135 per sq ft,which the government could sell to its employees.
After it constructs the affordable homes,the builder can embark on further construction on the remaining land,the HC had said,an order upheld by the Supreme Court on March 30.
Hiranandanis troubles did not end there.The HC had given the go-ahead for the petitioners to file criminal cases in the matter,saying they were free to take up the issue of corruption in a criminal prosecution against any errant public officer and the developer.
The issue of compensationto be paid by the builder for violations in Powaiwould be decided by another bench of the high court.
The state government had brought down the quantum of damages to be paid by Hiranandani to Rs 3 crore a figure described as paltry by the high court.

Powai Land Matters

PILs claim that instead of building affordable flats of 431 sq ft or 861 sq ft in keeping with its agreement with the state,Hiranandani amalgamated flats to form sprawling apartments of 1,800-4,000 sq ft
In February this year,high court directs Hiranandani to build 3,100 affordable flats,including 450 that will be offered to the state at 135 per sq ft
On March 30,Supreme Court dismisses Hiranandanis appeal against the order

Admin · Guru

13 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Mumbai)
HT Correspondent htmetro@hindustantimes.com

Ministers named in CAG report push state not to table it

NEW DELHI/PUNE: An organisation of ex-servicemen in Pune has alleged more than 2.60 lakh square feet has been allotted for building a retirement home for Pratibha Patil, who is also supreme commander of the armed forces in her capacity as President.

The land in question belongs to defence estate. Patil’s term as President ends in July.

The organisation has also complained two Britishera bungalows have been demolished to build her new home.

The President’s office said all rules were being strictly adhered to on this. The Rashtra-pati Bhavan said in a statement: “The President has not allotted any land to herself. The government’s defence establishment owns the land and will continue to do so. The land was not earmarked for defence personnel. There is no specific ar

ea or restriction for the accommodation for the president. No illegality has been committed.” Sources said under the present rules, a former President is entitled to a furnished bungalow at a place of his or

her choice in India. If government accommodation is available, the retired President is entitled to the type of residence available to Union ministers.

Justice for Jawan, part of the NGO ‘Green Thumb’ group, however, questioned why so much land had been allotted to build a house for Patil. A reply from Rashtrapati Bhavan to an RTI query filed by Suresh Patil, a retired lieutenant colonel and founder of Justice for Jawan, states that a President is entitled to stay in a house admeasuring 4,498 sq ft, though the existing rules are silent on overall area of land. Suresh Patil said a large extent of land was being fenced. MUMBAI: Under pressure from senior ministers allegedly named in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for land allotment to educational institutes run by them, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday sought legal opinion from the state advocate general, and also appointed a group of eight ministers to decide whether the report should be rejected, and if it should be tabled in the ongoing budget session of the state legislature. Chavan had earlier promised to table the report on April 16.

The names of these ministers were not immediately known, but sources close to the CM said that the group has some 'tainted' ministers in it as well.

The CAG report was unofficially released by the opposition last week. It names exCMS Vilasrao Deshmukh a n d Narayan Rane , and senior ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Harsh-vardhan Patil and Patangrao Kadam for getting government land allotted to their institutions at discounted rates, resulting in losses to the exchequer.

In the cabinet meeting on Thursday, the indicted ministers also sought a CID probe into how the report was leaked. Constitutionally, the government cannot reject the report and is under legal obligation to table it.

Admin · Guru

13 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Mumbai)
HT Correspondent htmetro@hindustantimes.com HT Correspondent htmetro@hindustantimes.com

Private charity hospitals to come under state government scanner UNSATISFACTORY REPLIES ON HEALTH QUERIES IRK OPPOSITION

MUMBAI: The state government will design a mechanism to bring private charity hospitals, which do not provide free treatment to economically weak patients, under the scanner.

Private hospitals that are registered under the Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act are granted incentives such as land at concessional rates. In return, they need to reserve 10% of their hospital beds for the poor and provide medicines to them at subsidised rates. For long, other private hospitals in the city and rest of the state have been at loggerheads with the government over these provisions.

Legislators raised the issue in the assembly on Thursday. Industries minister Narayan Rane told the house that a monitoring mechanism would be set up within three months.

The government would ensure that 2% of the respective hospital’s annual revenue is spent on providing health care to the poor and needy, he said.

The city has 84 charity hospitals.

Minister of state for law and judiciary Bhaskar Jadhav said that the charity commissioner had, in some cases, asked the hospitals to stop the treatment being given to the poor because they had exhausted their 2% reserves.

“Now, the state will have to see that the money [reserves] is deposited with the government so that it is spent properly. The accounts that the hospitals present to us are doubtful in some cases,” said Jadhav.

Jadhav admitted that the hospitals in question have been thriving on the loopholes in the existing law and hence “the state should positively think of amending the law”.

In a similar case concerning a five-star hospital, the legislative council had punished a chief officer of the hospital for breaching the privilege of a legislative committee that had visited the hospital to check whether the services were being extended to the poor. MUMBAI: The government is all set to hike the allowances given to home guards in the state.

Addressing the members of the legislative council, home minister RR Patil said: “We plan to raise the daily allowance from Rs150 to Rs 250, breakfast allowance to Rs100, exercise allowance to Rs90 and lunch allowance to Rs90.”

He said the proposal will be sent to the finance ministry and the state cabinet will decide on it soon.

The discussion was initiated by BJP member Sanjay Kelkar who deplored the low allowances given to home guards. MUMBAI: Upset with the replies of state minister for health Fauzia Khan over the queries related to her portfolio, opposition members staged a walkout on Thursday.

“If the government is not going to give satisfactory answers to our questions, it is useless for us to participate in the question hour,” said Vinod Tawde, opposition leader of the state council.

Five questions were raised including the one on the steps taken by the government in the Latur case where several people lost their eyesight due to faulty operative system.

The question hour is one of the important events in the session and the minister concerned is supposed to answer the queries raised by the members.

Shivajirao Deshmukh, chairman, legislative council, who intervened twice, said: “The minister should give specific answers.”

However, the situation did not improve much forcing the opposition benches to leave the house.

Patil also announced that the state would provide training to home guards.

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Home guards is a voluntary organisation comprising citizens from all walks of life who receive specialised training outside their normal hours of work. They are trained in first aid, rescue operations, weapon training and crowd control

Admin · Guru

Controversial CAG Report Tabled in Mrashtra Cabinet

Govt to present it in assembly on April 16,many ministers want report to be scrapped

OUR POLITICAL BUREAU MUMBAI

The controversial state CAG report,which was leaked by the Opposition to the media last week even before being tabled in the state assembly,was presented in the state cabinet meeting on Thursday.Many ministers of the state government had demanded the report to be scrapped and not tabled in the assembly.This CAG report sheds light on how some Maharashtra ministers grabbed plots of land for their own trusts and relatives.The government has announced that this report will be presented in the state assembly on April 16.Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal,who has been accused of getting out of turn land allotment for his trust Mumbai Education Trust,demanded that the report be scrapped by the government while other ministers also expressed their resistance to tabling this report in the assembly in its current form.Some other ministers,who have been accused of grabbing land for their trusts,claimed that the report presents an unrealistic picture of procedures that were followed before allotment.

COMMENTS ON DECISION DEFICIT

Union minister of state for communications and Mumbai MP Milind Deoras comments on twitter claiming decision deficit in the Maharashtra government drew sharp reactions from ministers in the state.Deora tweeted that decision deficit in Maharashtra,headed by the Congress government,resulted in delayed execution of projects in the state.His tweet on Wednesday said,Mumbais Aquarium and Zoo revamp further delayed.No progress on Girni Kamgar issue and Sewri-Nhava Sea Link.Theres severe decision deficit in Maharashtra. Minister for housing Sachin Ahir said,This might be Deoras view from Delhi,he may not be aware of many of the problems we face here. Another NCP minister said,The Congress may want to project that delays are happening because of coalition partners,but this is not true. Deoras comments,however,provided ammunition to the Opposition in Maharashtra.The state BJP spokesperson said,A Congress minister from the Central government saying that there is decision deficit in Maharashtra has proved that Prithviraj Chavans government has failed on this front.

Admin · Guru

State Clears Way for New Industrial Policy Rollout

Maharashtras new policy to be tabled in state cabinet for approval in last week of April

ROHIT CHANDAVAKAR MUMBAI

Maharashtras much-delayed industrial policy will finally be presented to the state cabinet for approval in the last week of April.This policy envisages an investment of over.5-lakh crore and generation of over 20 lakh new jobs in the state.The five-year policy is expected to give a boost,mainly to small and medium enterprises and will encourage investors to set up industries and other facilities across the state,where growth has been slower.Sources say that VAT and stamp duty concessions for investors will continue in this policy effective for the next five years.One of the main reasons why the introduction of this industrial policy was delayed for over a year was because of differences between ministries over providing concessions and introducing some reservations on state-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation plots from small and medium enterprises.Sources in the chief ministers office confirmed that after prolonged discussions these differences have been finally ironed out and the new policy is ready to be rolled out.It will be presented to the cabinet anytime after April 20.The earlier policy was announced in 2006 and it ended on March 31,2011.The state government has been working on the draft new policy for over a year now.Speaking about the new policy,chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said,The new industrial policy will give priority to providing aftercare services to investors who want to set up facilities in any part of the state.The focus will be on generating employment and reducing regional imbalance.The manufacturing sector provides more employment than any other sector in the state.So,the policy will encourage that sector. Industries minister Narayan Rane said,The state has been a top priority destination for most domestic and foreign investors.In the past five years,we have been able to attract investors like Volkswagen and General Motors to the state.We have studied what other states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are offering and we are sure our industrial policy will be more attractive to investors. A senior official in the ministry of industries said that the policy will continue to provide concessions introduced in the earlier industrial policy of providing refund on VAT,some relief on stamp duty and electricity duty.The government is also serious about giving a direct subsidy.Asked about why special economic zones (SEZs) in the state have not received good response as expected,the official said that most SEZ proposals were export-oriented and they are at a standstill because of a worldwide slowdown.The government has accepted in the state assembly that the biggest hurdle in setting up large manufacturing plants in the state is nonavailability of land.The policy will include some suggestions on land acquisition in Maharashtra.The state has already launched a programme to acquire around 55,000 hectares of land.

Prithviraj Chavan

Admin · Guru

New Housing Bill Tabled in Assembly

The bill,once approved,will facilitate setting up of housing regulator

OUR POLITICAL BUREAU MUMBAI

The Maharashtra governments new Housing Bill was tabled in the state assembly on Wednesday.This Bill facilitates setting up of a housing regulator to provide protection to consumers.Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Promotion of Construction,Sale,Management and Transfer) draft Bill,2011,was presented and cleared in the state cabinet earlier.This comes three months after the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation released its Model Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill,2011,drafted to serve as a prototype for enforcing such a law in states.The purpose of both the bills state and Central is to bring about more transparency and accountability in the highly-unregulated realty sector by way of setting up a Real Estate Regulatory Authority and an Appellate Tribunal.The state announced in two months it will implement the recommendations of a committee set up to suggest steps to improve the rental housing scheme in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.An important recommendation was that each tenement under the scheme should be of 320 sq ft instead of 160 sq ft.Minister of State for Urban Development Bhaskar Jadhav said,The recommendation has been sent to the Cabinet for final approval. BJP MLA Devendra Phadanvis had asked about the reasons for delay in implementing all recommendations of the panel.The minister said it would be done in two months.

Admin · Guru

State Cong may Undergo Facelift

Party may change most of its office bearers after current assembly session

ROHIT CHANDAVARKAR MUMBAI

Still smarting under the recent civic poll defeat and various allegations of corruption,Congress may change most of its office bearers in Maharashtra after the current assembly session has concluded.Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan,who was in Delhi on Monday for the chief ministers meeting on internal security,also had talks with the partys central leadership and discussed a possible revamp in the state Congress.With the party faring poorly in civic elections and its leader Kripashankar Singhs alleged involvement in disproportionate assets case,it is almost certain that Congress will appoint a new Mumbai city chief soon,and it will also replace Maharashtra state chief Manikrao Thakre.During the current budget session of the state assembly,complaints have cropped up about the inaction and indecision in the state which are holding up infrastructure projects.And,many members elected from the Mumbai Metropolitan area have even complained that the urban development ministry,which is under the chief minister,has not cleared some private and public projects,resulting in cost escalation.Mumbai Congress MP Milind Deora had also taken up the issue and had criticised the state government for dithering on decisions,resulting in delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects.Congress state spokesperson Anant Gadgil,who was in Delhi for the past five days to meet various leaders,said: The party is very much concerned about the events in Maharashtra.I briefed most of the leaders about the reasons behind the recent debacle and what could be done to improve the situation. Chavan discussed various issues with party leaders on Monday,including the revelations in the interim report on Adarsh scam and the recently leaked state CAG report which holds 10 ministers responsible for out-ofturn allotment of plots of land to their own trusts resulting in loss to the exchequer.Chavan also briefed the Congress high command about the infrastructure projects in Mumbai,and presented a detailed note on the status of various projects.The chief minister had earlier said that his priority would be to push public and state infrastructure projects and not clear files related to private construction projects.It is believed that Chavan briefed the party high command about how some files of projects,which are pending with the urban development ministry,involve instances of violation,and thats why they are getting stuck.

Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan,who was in Delhi to attend the Chief ministers meet on internal security also discussed a revamp in the state Congress with the partys central leadership on Monday

Admin · Guru

CAG Report on Land Allotment to be Tabled Today

Opposition stalls assembly proceedings,wants report to be made public

OUR POLITICAL BUREAU MUMBAI

Amid charges and counter charges,Maharashtra state assembly on Monday was more like a house on fire.With the opposition parties demanding the controversial Maharashtra CAG report to be made public,and the state ministers clamouring for the report to be scrapped,deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar announced that the CAG report will be tabled in the assembly on Tuesday.The opposition in the legislative assembly stalled house proceedings on Monday,protesting the governments delay in tabling the CAG report.The government had assured the house that the report will be tabled on Monday,but after some ministers objected to the contents in the report in the last cabinet meeting,the report had been sent to state advocate general for recommendation on whether it was mandatory to be tabled or not.As opposition members trooped to the well and shouted slogans against the government for not fulfilling its promises to table the CAG report and revoke the suspension of 14 MLAs,the House was adjourned till the end of the question hour.Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) raised the issue during question hour.He said it was unfair that the government was going back on its promise.Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar told the House that the report has been now forwarded to governor K Sankaranarayanan.The governor,who was out of town has returned this morning.He will sign the report and forward it back to the government.The report will then be tabled on Tuesday, he added.The CAG report throws light on how 10 ministers of the state government,including PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal,parliamentary affairs minister Harshavardhan Patil and industries minister Narayan Rane got out-of turn allotment of large plots of land for their own trusts and relatives at throw-away prices.It also highlights how these plots were later used for commercial purposes instead of using for public utility.The report will be presented in the house after question hour on Tuesday.

Admin · Guru

Land violations cost Maha govt 951cr in 3 years: CAG

Sharad Vyas TNN

Mumbai: The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) in its report for 2010-11 has said misuse of land in Maharashtra has resulted in a revenue loss of Rs 400 crore.The amount is the highest cited by CAG in the last six years of the states auditing history.The total loss for 2005-06 to 2009-10 is pegged at Rs 551 crore.
Trusts and institutes allegedly belonging to PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal,industries and ports minister Narayan Rane,forest minister Patangrao Kadam,employment minister Vasant Purke,agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh have found mention in the report.
But except Bhujbal,whose nephew Sameer was allotted land in Nashik at a throwaway price,no top politician from the state has been mentioned in the report.
In its latest report,CAG says that of the states land revenue losses,the maximumRs 300 crorehas occurred due to the inappropriate sale and allotment of land,and the nonlevy /collection of conversion charges (when ownership of public land changes).
A total of 297 cases involving 5,900 acres of public land are under the scanner.The cases for 2005-06 to 2009-10 number 40,233.For this period,CAG said the government has managed to recover a paltry Rs 3.8 crore from the losses.
Portions of the CAG report were leaked by the opposition earlier this month,questioning the suspect allotment of public land to institutions with links to senior politicians and cabinet ministers.So far,only Bhujbal and Rane have given clarifications to the legislature.The others have not had an opportunity to do so since the government managed to stall the oppositions attempts at having a debate on the report,which will now be forwarded to the public accounts committee (PAC) for deliberation.

Lavasa hit govt to tune of 62 crore: CAG

Mumbai: The state government is under the scanner for lack of transparency in facilitating the planned hill city,Lavasa.The CAG in its report has slammed the state for failing to adhere to regulations,amending existing laws for the project,disturbing the already ecologically fragile environment and violating green norms.
It seems to be driven by private interest,not by public interest, the report said.The state exchequer could have taken a hit of Rs 42 crore;another Rs 20 crore was lost by way of non/short levy of licence and measurement fees.The report noted that despite the fact that Lavasa Corporation Ltd is a commercial venture designed to cater to the elite,the government granted exemptions and concessions from payment of stamp duty and registration fees.The concession availed were Rs 4.31 crore towards stamp duty and Rs 5.39 lakh for the registration fees.
According to LCL,there has been no special exemption given to the project,As per Maharashtra Governments Tourism Policy 2006,stamp duty exemption is given to any tourism project.Therefore,like many other tourism projects,Lavasa has also got stamp duty exemption.The exemption was approximately Rs 5 crore. TNN

Admin · Guru

18 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
HT Correspondent letters@hindustantimes.com

CAG punctures Adarsh balloon

MAHARASHTRA On the heels of JA Patil’s clean chit in Adarsh scam, CONG-NCP govt gets CAG blow on housing, Lavasa

From page 1 MUMBAI: The finding of the justice JA Patil-led judicial commission that the state owns Colaba land where the Adarsh tower has come up has brought great relief to the Congress and its leaders.

The Adarsh scam has embarrassed the Congress since November 2010. The party high command asked the then chief minister, Ashok Chavan, to quit because he had allegedly got his relatives four flats in the society and he was accused of approving civilians as members there.The commission has submitted in its interim report to the government that the land did not have any reservation for the Kargil heroes.

Subsequently, Chavan’s two predecessors, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde, both Union ministers now, too were named for their alleged roles in allotting the land. The ex-cms, who maintained that they did no wrong because the state owned the land, were vindicated on Tuesday.

Ashok Chavan, who suffered the most in the row, said that the truth was out finally. “My party will decide on me. It was my fate that I had to go through this (unpleasant) phase. But it is sad that some people tried to finish me politically.”

Deshmukh said from London the government allotted the land in accordance with the existing rules. “The interim report is a big relief and it should help us come out clean. I have been insisting on ownership of the land but then nobody was ready to listen to us then.”

Shinde told HT from Washington that he was in agreement with Chavan and Deshmukh. “I have already given my say to the commission on oath and I’m satisfied today.”

State Congress chief Manikrao Thakre welcomed the interim report. “It is satisfying that senior party leaders are cleared of the charges.”

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The state government had approached the commission a few months ago to seek an interim report on the points of title and reservation. The panel was appointed in January last year.

Admin · Guru

18 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
Dharmendra Jore letters@hindustantimes.com

CAG says govt was helping out private firm on Lavasa

DENYING THE FINDINGS, LCL SAID IT COULD SENSE AN ‘ELEMENT OF MALAFIDE INTENT’ BEHIND ALLEGATIONS

MUMBAI: Slamming the Maharashtra government for favouring the developers of hill city Lavasa, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) stated that regulations were framed and amendments were made to existing laws for the sole purpose of pulling the project through. The report was tabled in the state legislature on Tuesday.

“The amendments, which diluted well-established government procedures, were made to ensure that Lavasa Corporation Limited (LCL) had a free hand in developing the project to serve its own commercial interest at the cost of public interest,” the report said.

The LCL, however, denied the findings. “Time and again, allegations have been levelled against Lavasa. These are based on misconceptions. Whilst we suspect lack of clarity and understanding of the facts, we also — at times — sense an element of malafide intent amongst some detractors,” a statement released by the corporation said.

The CAG has recommended undertaking a social cost benefit analysis of the Lavasa project. Stating that there was complete lack of transparency in selecting the project proponent, the report said that the Lavasa developers did not seek the government’s permission to buy tribal land.

EMBARRASSMENT FOR PAWAR

The CAG’S observation is seen to have come as a major embarrassment for the project’s prime proponent, Sharad Pawar, who had been openly defending the project.

Pawar had taken on then union environment minister Jairam Ramesh for serving notices to Lavasa. While Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, once held a stake in Lavasa, his close friend Ajit Gulabchand’s Hindustan Construction Company was the project promoter.

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Pawar was not available for comment.

Admin · Guru

18 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
HT Correspondents letters@hindustantimes.com

How army lost the plot: A tale of lapses, unfit maps

THE PANEL SAID THE DEFENCE COULD NOT PROVE THAT THE PLOT WAS IN ITS POSSESSION PRIOR TO 1937

MUMBAI: The two-member judicial commission led by former high court judge JA Patil in its report has highlighted that lapses of the defence ministry in asserting its supposed right consolidated the claims of the state.

The panel noted defence did not have any documentary evidence to prove that the plot was in existence prior to 1937 and was in its possession.

The general commanding officer of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Brigadier Deepak Saxena, was ticked off by the commission for submitting “unauthenticated maps” dating back to 1897 and 1909 – one from Google and another from the Edinburgh Geographical Institute – to show that the plot was in possession of the army from before 1937.

Other than this, the army submitted only one other map Survey of India Map, 1957, which was not conclusive either.

The report talks of the “inconsistent conduct” of officials such as correspondences from 1958 to 2010 in which they had admitted this land belonged to the state. The latest correspondence was by the current defence estate officer, Gita Kashyap, who in 2010 wrote that the land belonged to the state.

The report also slammed the army’s inaction and questioned how it remained silent when the Eco Park allegedly inaugurated by it on this plot in 1996 was pulled down in 2004. It asked how the army failed to raise protest on security of ownership back then.

The commission termed the plea of “adverse possession” – claim of the right to property against the true owner on grounds of long possession – made by the army as not “proper” and “ethical’” and smacking of an “unwarranted inimical attitude’’ against the state.

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The report criticised the state too. If the army did not have the plot mentioned in the military land registrar – the record of all lands owned by defence – the state also did not create a property card for the plot until 2004.

Admin · Guru

18 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
Dharmendra Jore and Sayli Udas Mankikar letters@hindustantimes.com

CAG indicts ministers for land misuse

MUMBAI: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has in a report named education institutes promoted by five politicians including two former chief ministers for misusing government land.

The country’s top accounting body also rapped the Maharashtra government for offering unwarranted favours to Lavasa Corporation’s R2,800crore hill city residential project near Pune.

The report, tabled in the legislature on Tuesday, indicted institutes run by the family or close aides of former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh (now union minister) and Narayan Rane (now state industries minister), PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal, forest minister Patangrao Kadam and agriculture minister Radhakrishna VikhePatil on charges of land misuse.

They are accused of acquiring plots at discounted rates from the government for educational purposes and changing the use of the land for commercial gains.

The Manjra Charitable Trust, controlled by Deshmukh, has been mentioned in the report for getting 23,840 square metre land in Borivli at R6.56 crore in September 2005. The current market value of the land is R30.37 crore.

The report said the application for allotting land to the trust for a dental college was approved without assigning reasons for preferential treatment by then CM Deshmukh.

BJP legislator Devendra Fadnavis had tabled parts of the report in the legislature more than week ago and also given CDS containing the leaked report to the media, triggering strong political reactions.

On Lavasa, the CAG said private and not public interest had propelled the regulations framed and amendments made to laws and procedures.

The report also observed that the city’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Research Centre, which got ownership/trusteeship of the hospital transferred without informing the government, was liable to pay the state R174.88 crore.

Admin · Guru

CAG Report Exposes Murky Land Deals in Mrashtra,Targets Lavasa

Report that has highlighted out-of-turn land allotments to ministers may force state govt to take tough calls

OUR POLITICAL BUREAU MUMBAI

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG),took a major step towards exposing the hidden rot in the Maharashtra administration by painting a picture of murky land deals,open violation of building and environmental norms intended to benefit powerful politicians and businessmen.The report,which has already pushed the Prithivraj Chavan government on the backfoot,has criticised the allotment of land to the Lavasa hill station project near Pune and shed light on out-of-turn land allotments to many ministers.Coming just weeks after the ruling Congress-NCP's drubbing in the municipal elections in Mumbai and Thane,and amidst a perception that the state administration is lethargic and adrift,the report is expected to force Prithviraj Chavan government to act.The leakage of some parts of the report last week created a firestorm which continued on Tuesday with the opposition creating a ruckus inside the assembly.CAG found serious loopholes in the procedures followed to sanction the Lavasa hill station project to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC).Hill-station type areas in Pune were identified without any expert study and Lavasa Corp was selected without any transparency;the project was driven more by private interest than public interest.The state decided to develop the area without publicity or expressions of interest,and only one project,Lavasa,got the sanction in 2001.No other hill stations have been developed since then with private participation in other parts of the state,resulting in skewed development, the report stated.Grant of the Special Planning Authority status to Lavasa Corp a first,with no precedence was accepted.The government abdicated its responsibility of monitoring the project,handing out undue favours to the developer.Lavasa Corps plans and layouts violated certain state rules but the director of town planning,Pune,didnt monitor these modifications, the CAG report added.Apart from mentioning the irregularities regarding land allotment at a concessional rate to trusts belonging to several state ministers,the report also points to various cases of unethical procedures followed in government departments.For instance,the report mentions certain practices in RTOs in Mumbai and other cities where hundreds of car owners were allotted their preferred vehicle registration numbers but were not charged a fee for that.The report also points out several cases of unexplained mismatch in the sale value and tax recovery in hundreds of vehicles.Earlier,state industries minister Narayan Rane claimed that the report leak was a breach of privilege and demanded action while home minister RR Patil announced an inquiry by the Mumbai Crime Branch into the leak.

Admin · Guru

19 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Mumbai)
Sayli Udas Mankikar sayli.mankikar@hindustantimes.com

Education dept yet to recover R2- cr fine

Private higher education institutes are liable to pay fines for admitting students beyond permissible intake; prominent institutions under the scanner

MUMBAI: The Higher and Technical Education department has come under the scanner of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for not recovering penalties of Rs2.01 crore from private institutes. The institutes in question include those run by the DY Patil group of Institutes; Saraswati Education Society, Navi Mumbai; and Sinhagad Institute of Management, Pune.

The CAG report states that the amount due is a penalty that the institutes were supposed to pay to the department for taking in excess students on multiple occasions.

The department fixes the student intake for an institute, which depends on the course structure and infrastructure. But by admitting excess students, the institutes earned more fees, despite having infrastructure for fewer students.

“This has denied students the benefits in form of academic support and infrastructure,” the report states.

The report slams the department for ‘inadequacy’ in implementing an existing resolution that fixes penalties. According to the resolution, institutions defaulting for the first time are liable to pay a penalty equal to 200% of the fee for each extra student admitted. This goes up to 500% for institutes that default for the second time. If an institute defaults for the third time, it is to be referred to the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teachers Education for cancelling its recognition.

The CAG report says that the rule allows institutes to accept excess intake on multiple occasions, since the penalties may have been already charged for students in another course of the institute.

Admin · Guru

19 Apr 2012
Hindustan Times (Mumbai)
Sayli Udas Mankikar sayli.mankikar@hindustantimes.com

Undue favours were made to supplier of bomb suits: CAG

MUMBAI: The sub-standard quality of bomb suits ordered by the home department and the delay in their procurement has been severely criticised in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which was tabled in state assembly on Tuesday.

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FILE PHOTOSinhagad Institute, Pune, which has come under the CAG scanner.

The report blames the department for ‘undue favours’ to the supplier thereby ‘jeopardising the security preparedness of the state’.

The department ordered 82 bomb suits under an ‘ urgent order procedure’, that is by dipping into a contingency fund, and paid the entire cost of Rs 6.22 crore in advance to the supplier even before inspecting the material or the quality of the suits, the report said.

According to the report, the assistant inspector general of police, Mumbai (AIGP), on behalf of the director general of police (DGP) had called for bids for bomb suits for detection and disposal in December 2008, after the Mumbai terror attacks.

From among 35 probable suppliers, the department chose Techno Trade Impex India Ltd, which was to get it from USA and entered into an agreement with it in March 2009 for the supply of 82 bomb suits for Rs 6.22 crore, which was paid for fully in the same month.

The supplier was to deliver the suits within two months of the agreement and was to receive 90% of the payment after receiving the suits and the remaining 10% after they were tested.

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s scrutiny found that 36 suits were manufactured in South Africa and 46 in China and supplied in May 2009, which was not accepted by the department as they had not been tested.

Finally, the bomb suits were delivered after two years, which defeated the purpose of urgent payment, the report said.

Admin · Guru

AMENDED DRAFT POLICY ON OPEN SPACES READY
Private trusts running public plots may come under RTI

Linah Baliga | TNN

The amended draft policy on open spaces is ready and the BMC plans to bring private trusts managing public spaces under the RTI Act.If the plan is approved,trusts looking after recreation grounds (RGs),playgrounds (PGs),parks and gardenson adoption or caretaker basiswill have to share details of their operationswiththe public.
The move comes after the BMC caught flak at a civic improvementscommittee meeting in March over the ambiguity in the draft guidelines.
The draft policy will be sent to civic chief Subodh Kumar for approval before being tabled again before the improvements committee andthe generalbody meeting of the BMC.It will then go to the government for final approval.TOIisin possession of the circular on the amendment.
A civic official said : Plots given away on adoption or caretaker basis are reserved public lands.We felt the public has the right to know details of the plots,how they are being developed,how funds are being secured and utilized etc.To make the system more transparent,we proposed to bring private trusts managing open spaces under the RTI Act.
Private trusts will have to put up a board with details of the plot they are in charge of.
The caretaker policy will continue to apply to RG plots with over 5,000 sq m area.The draft policy had recommended that for RG plots above 5,000 sq m given on caretaker basis,only 25% would be in the private trusts possession.The remaining 75% would be with the BMC.
Activists contended that allotting 25% of RG plots to private players would leave them vulnerable to commercial exploitation.It was also suggested in the draft policy that private trusts be asked to pay Rs 3,000/ sq m for the remaining 75% of the RG plot to the BMC,which the civic body would utilize to develop the ground or provide other civic amenities.There are 7-8 clubs that have got plots on caretaker basis.Their owners have developed open plots given to them.So,this amount will not be imposed on them, the official said.

CONCERNS OVER CARETAKER PLAN

The amended draft plan for open spaces states that the caretaker policy will stay and apply to RG plots with an area of more than 5,000 sq m
BMCs earlier draft open space policy had recommended that only 25% of an open RG plot (5,000 sq m and above) would be in the possession of a private trust if given away on caretaker basis and the remaining 75% would be with the BMC
Activists objected to 25% of an RG plot remaining with private players,arguing that this would make it vulnerable to commercial exploitation.They also said this was an ecologically unsound concept and could cause damage to the citys ecology

THE LAW

The obligatory duty of the BMC is to provide for and maintain urban forestry,protect the environment and promote ecological aspects

KEEPING IT TRANSPARENT

If the civic bodys plan to include private trusts managing open spaces within the ambit of the RTI Act is approved,private players looking after recreation ground and playgroundson adoption or caretaker basiswill have to share details of their functioning with the public.Key aspects of the functioning of a private trust vis--vis an open space,which the public will be able to access,include: Name of the private trust Transactions between the BMC and the trust The manner in which funds are arranged and utilized How a private trust develops an open space in the city

Admin · Guru

TOWER OF DECEIT
Adarsh construction didnt cost state 12cr

Shibu Thomas & Rebecca Samervel TNN

Mumbai: Former MMRDA metropolitan commissioner T Chandrashekhar on Monday denied that a loss of Rs 12 crore had occurred while permitting Adarsh to be constructed under the Development Control Regulations of 1991.
Chandrashekhar,who headed MMRDA between October 2005 and June 2006,gave three permissions to Adarsh issued the commencement certificate to construct up to the fourth floor,approved construction of the podium and condoned deficiency in open space.
MMRDA had initially given permission to Adarsh to construct up to the plinth level under DCR 1989.Subsequently,in 2006,MMRDA applied DCR 1991 for further constructions.The commission grilled him on whether two DCRs could be made applicable to the same project.Certainly not, said Chandrashekhar,adding that he did not write a letter pointing this out to the state as they had asked MMRDA to apply DCR 1991.He added that it was not brought to his notice that applying DCR 1991 would cost the state Rs 12 crore as a premium to be charged for allowing the podium construction.
The CBI on Monday filed its reply in the bail application of two accused Brigadier (retd) M M Wanchoo and chief promoter R C Thakur.The agency opposed the applications,said the case was of a serious nature and that the investigation was still in progress.

Admin · Guru

farmer 20120424a_006107006

Admin · Guru

Adarsh scam: Ex-CM in dock for laundering

ED Names 14 For Making Illegal Gains

Swati Deshpande TNN

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case of money laundering against former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and the 13 others named by the CBI as the accused in the Adarsh scam.
The agency told the Bombay high court on Monday that an enforcement case information report equivalent of a police first information report had been filed against the 14 accused.It added that prima facie there existed a case against them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,2002.The Act deals with offences wherein illegal gains have been made from proceeds of crime.In the Adarsh case,the ED is probing the source of funds used by members to buy flats in the Colaba tower.
EDs counsel R V Desai informed the court that its investigation into the scam was still in progress.But if it is established that the accused acquired properties by abusing their office,sources told TOI,the ED would attach the assets.Apart from Chavan,the accused in the Adarsh scam also include several senior exservicemen,former Mumbai municipal chief Jairaj Phatak and former state information commissioner Ramanand Tiwari.
Desai initially avoided mentioning the prima facie case under the stringent provisions of PMLA,repeatedly saying that the ED needed more time to investigate and reach conclusions.He admitted its existence only when the bench,headed by Justice Sharad Bobde,said: You must leave the conclusion to the courts.

WHAT THE CHARGES MEAN

THE CASE |

Enforcement Directorate has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act

What the ECIR says |

The accused persons got clearances to construct Adarsh building illegally and obtained flats at a price much lower than market value.They projected tainted property as untainted

Punishment prescribed |

Rigorous imprisonment for a minimum term of 3 years and a maximum of 7 years.A fine of up to Rs 5 lakh

CBI charges against Chavan and 13 others |

Criminal conspiracy,cheating,forgery,abuse of official position under Prevention of Corruption Act.Maximum punishment is 7 years imprisonment

Admin · Guru

Adarsh probe to be completed by June 15

The high court was hearing two public interest litigations (PIL),one of which has been filed by Thane resident Pravin Wategaonkar.Wategaonkar wants a probe to find the source of Adarsh members funds as well as if there were any benami transactions.The second PIL,filed by activist Simpreet Singh,has demanded proper action by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
CBI counsel Ijaz Khan told the bench that it would complete its probe into the Adarsh scam by June 15.He said a joint meeting,as directed earlier by the court,was held on April 18 in New Delhi between directors and top officials of CBI,ED and the Income Tax department.
The three agencies are probing different aspects of the Adarsh housing society scam.The society has been accused of constructing a 31-storey buildingin which politicians,bureaucrats,top military personnel or their families got flats at a fraction of the market price-on prime land in south Mumbai by getting questionable concessions and clearances.
TOI was the first to report that the ED is in the process of filing a case against various Adarsh society members under PMLA.

Admin · Guru

NCP ministers family owns 300 acres of land

Nauzer K Bharucha TNN

Mumbai: After the Congress,which has had to face all-round embarrassment over Kripa Shankar Singhs disproportionate assets case,its the turn of its partner in the Democratic Front government,the NCP,to face uncomfortable questions over a ministers land holdings near Mumbai.
State water resources minister Sunil Tatkare could be in a spot over his familys large land holdings in Raigad district.The state water resources department is under scrutiny after TOIs recent expose on the highly inflated costs of irrigation projects,which favour private contractors.
Documents procured by this newspaper reveal that Tatkares family and his close associates control over 300 acres of agriculture land in Ambivali,Dhagadwadi,Khim and Shekhadi.These villages are part of Tatkares stronghold in Raigad district,over which he has held sway as MLA for close to two decades.Local sources alleged these land parcels form only a small part of the familys real estate portfolio.
Land records show that a major chunk of the land bank is directly in the name of Tatkares 29-year-old son,Aniket.In a year,between 2008 and 2009,the junior Tatkare purchased over 80 plots aggregating around 250 acres in Dhagadwadi and Ambivali.The plots were bought by around two dozen companies in which Aniket and his 24-year-old sister Aditi are directors.These companies mainly pertain to agriculture,real estate and hotels.
These plots were purchased for as little as Rs 46,000 to over Rs one crore,depending on their size.The familys property portfolio also includes a prime fiveacre sprawl in Kihim,where an acre could fetch Rs 3-4 crore at present.The Kihim land was purchased by Multiventure Agro & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd,a company in which Aniket is a director.
When contacted,Aniket claimed his land holding was only around 80 acres.Some of the parcels which are shown in my name have either been transferred or sold to third parties, he told TOI.The junior Tatkare strongly denied allegations that land owners in Raigad district were forced to sell their properties.No one was pressured to part with their land, he said.
Minister Tatkare too denied allegations that locals were threatened to sell their land to his son.My son has his own identity.He is doing well in the agriculture and dairy business.All land transactions are between him and the farmers, he told this newspaper.

IN A SPOT: Sunil Tatkare