Mumbai: A Mumbai-based activist and Indian Nationalist Congress Seva Dal Joint Secretary Rakesh Shetty has alleged Rustomjee Realty Pvt Ltd has illegally constructed a high rise building on a prime plot in Andheri’s D N Nagar, that was reserved for a playground (PG). The activist has claimed that he sought this information through right to information (RTI) query.
According to the RTI reply, MHADA in its issued no-objection certificate for carrying out this project named ‘Rustomjee Elements’ had informed in advance that 7,206 square metres of plot is reserved for the PG and construction cannot be taken place on it, activist claims. But despite that the developer allegedly continued to construct the building on the restricted land apart from the permissible area. Currently, the project has been built on land measuring 20,218.65 square metres without permission, the complainant alleges.
Shetty said, “It is the responsibility of the authorities to check whether the work is going on as per the given NOC. It seems due to no fear of any action, the developer has carried out the work on the restricted land.” While the Rustomjee Realty Pvt Ltd denied the allegations made by the activist. In its issued statement to The Free Press Journal through an email query, the real estate company spokesperson said, “Allegations made by Rakesh Shetty before the MHADA-Konkan Board are false and specifically misleading in order to sensationalise a non-existent situation. The alleged activist is pursuing this matter for ulterior motives and has made numerous allegations of a similar nature in the past, which have all been dealt with and closed by the authorities themselves.
Further the statement points out, the complaint submitted by Gurunath Phondekar, who was the developer terminated by the society for non performance. His claims had been rejected by Bombay High Court in its order dated December 1, 2014. Both these persons– Phondekar and Shetty are habitual complainants and they have together brought this up at the penultimate stage of the project merely for wrongful gains and as a means of harassment to the Rustomjee brand and the project. The complainant has demanded a probe against the responsible officials. On May 27, a meeting was also held with the MHADA Konkan Board chief officer pertaining this complaint, informed Shetty. Wherein, he also asked the authorities to stop the developer from selling any apartments and shops in this disputed property.
