The land is a 145-acre area in Goregaon, suburban Mumbai, belonging to the Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University in Nagpur, where the Mumbai Veterinary College sub-campus is located. (Representative Photo)
A three-acre plot of land in Mumbai, originally reserved for educational and research purposes, has been allocated to the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB) chaired by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar.
The bank plans to construct a building called ‘Sahakar Bhavan’ on this land, which will be used as a training centre for the cooperative sector. Darekar asserted that the land will be used solely for educational and research purposes.
The planned ‘world-class training centre for the cooperative sector’ will focus on education and training in cooperation, with no commercial activities planned. He expects the bank to be charged only nominal fees for the plot.
The land in question is part of a 145-acre area in Goregaon, suburban Mumbai, which belongs to the Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University in Nagpur, where the Mumbai Veterinary College sub-campus is located.
In June and July 2023, the Mumbai suburban district collector and Konkan Divisional Commissioner requested the allocation of a three-acre plot from this land for the construction of Sahakar Bhavan.
On March 7 this year, the university’s executive council approved the transfer of the land. Consequently, the land, previously under the animal husbandry department, has been transferred to the revenue department for the construction of Sahakar Bhavan by Mumbai DCCB.
The land was originally designated for ‘education’ and ‘research’ activities. The revenue department has been instructed to make the necessary changes to the land use category.
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When contacted, Vishnu Mankar, Assistant Registrar of the Mumbai Veterinary College, said the college is merely following orders and has no further comments on the matter. “We are not decision-makers here. We are following orders and cannot provide additional details,” he said.
“I proposed the need for a world-class training centre in Mumbai, given its status as the financial capital of the country. Both accepted my proposal, and the land will be used exclusively for this purpose. There will be no commercial activities at Sahakar Bhavan,” Darekar said.
He added, “As there will be no commercial activity, we hope the government will charge only nominal fees for the land.”
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Darekar described the training centre as being modeled after Yashada in Pune, which conducts various administrative training sessions for government and private organizations.
“The cooperative sector is evolving, and there is a need for greater awareness of its benefits and schemes. The Sahakar Bhavan will facilitate research and education in this field,” he explained.
The bank aims to complete the construction within two to three years after the land handover process is finalized.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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