Raut ‘upset’ with govt inaction on encroachment

According to the petition,Bezonbagh Pragatishil Grihanirman Sanstha was formed in 1977 to provide housing to employees of the now-defunct Empress Mills. The government gave it over 80 acres for Rs 4 lakh. Raut’s father and father-in-law,who were the mill’s employees,were allotted plots. Raut and a few others encroached on the land,the petitioner alleged.

HC had directed encroachments be removed but no action was taken. The government suggested it could make adjacent land available to the society. The land cost is over Rs 54 crore,which the society has refused to shell out. Raut denied he resigned or threatened to resign. “I was present in cabinet and pre-cabinet meetings and for the tea party before the monsoon session. If I had resigned,would I be seen in these places,” he asked.

“I have the right to raise issues. When the society was formed,the government directed it to construct multi-storey apartments. As apartments weren’t in vogue then,it allotted plots on which people built houses. That’s being seen as encroachment. I have my office there,” he said.