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Mumbai: In an unusual development, the urban development department led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to allot 5,600 sq mt plot in Belapur, Navi Mumbai, for a paltry Re 1 every year to Shri Sant Dr Ramrao Maharaj Charitable Trust, headed by Shinde’s colleague, minister Sanjay Rathod. Normally, such leases officially have a 30-year tenure.
Criticising the decision, the leader of opposition Vijay Wadettiwar said, “See what happens when a minister is close to the CM. The land parcel worth Rs 500 crore has been allotted for a nominal lease rent of Re 1, according to the minister… Rs 1,500 to Ladki Bahin for votes, and Rs 500 crore worth piece of land to a ‘ladka mantri’ for a pittance. This is how the state is being looted,” Wadettiwar has said in his post on X.
The state government has also reportedly decided to allot a 4,000 sq mt prime piece of land in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, to an institution working for the Dhangar community. However, instead of a direct allotment, it asked another department to take the decision.
The state decision, issued a few days back, clearly mentions that the Abhinav Samaj Foundation working in the field of social and educational purposes has demanded a piece of land. The onus of transfer, though, has been put on the Other Backward Class (OBC) welfare department.
Interestingly, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) comes under the urban development department (UDD) headed by Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde and the OBC welfare department is with BJP’s Atul Save. CIDCO will transfer the land handpicked by the BJP minister.
