Journalism of Courage
Sandeep Ashar
Union minister Rajiv Shuklas BAG Films Education Society was not the only organisation linked to a politician that was allotted prime land in Mumbai at throwaway prices for educational purposes.
An investigation by The Indian Express has found that trusts backed by four former chief ministers,one of whom is a Union cabinet minister now,a state cabinet minister,two MLAs and a former MLA,were also allotted plots at dirt cheap rates in the last three decades.
Documents obtained under the RTI Act show that the state government has allotted at least 25 such plots in the citys suburbs alone. Of these,16 were allotted at concessional rates on occupancy basis for school and colleges. The plots allotted included large ones in prime areas such as Bandra-Kurla Complex,Bandra,Andheri,Kandivali,Malad and Ghatkopar.
A senior state government official said terms and conditions of allotment have been violated in several cases. These range from not using the plot for the purpose allotted within the set deadline,delay in payment of premium or interest and illegal change of use.
Despite granting the plots at hugely concessional rates,the state government has also permitted up to 30 per cent commercial exploitation in many cases,the official said.
For instance
* A 4,000-sq m government plot in the prime Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai,initially reserved for open space and a stadium,was allotted to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shindes Sushil Kumar Sambhaji Shinde Pratisthan in 2009 for a paltry Rs 9 lakh for a school when it was worth Rs 21 crore as per the ready reckoner (RR) rates fixed by the government. Construction work for the school is yet to begin in violation of a stipulation requiring completion of such work within two years of allotment. The concessional rate was applied to use the land for a school. But a board at the site says the Pratisthan plans to use it also for a college,a community hall,and a training centre for competitive exams. At current RR rates,the plot is worth Rs 41 crore.
* Another 10,000 sq m area carved out from the same plot was allotted to Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jayant Patils Kasegaon Education Society (KES) in May 2008 for Rs 22.5 lakh for an English-medium school. According to RR rates it was worth Rs 52 crore in 2008 and is worth Rs 109 crore at present. Documents accessed through the RTI Act show KES did not comply with the two-year deadline for completing construction work. It has now set up the Ascend International School on a portion and has also got permission for commercial exploitation of 30 per cent built-up area.
* The Marathwada Mitra Mandal (MMM),founded by the late Maharashtra chief minister Shankarrao Chavan,was originally leased a 11,000 sq m plot,partly reserved for a police station and staff quarters,opposite the Bandra collectors office in 1982 at Rs 1 per sq m for a hostel and a community centre. Thirty-one years later,the plot remains vacant. MMM,now presided over by another former CM,Shivajirao Patil-Nilengekar,got permission in 2009 to convert the land use to engineering and management college. MMM paid a revised rate of Rs 11.83 crore. The plot was then valued at Rs 57 crore and is now worth Rs 112 crore.
* The Manjara Charitable Trust founded by the late Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been allotted two plots – one for a Marathi medium school in Versova and another for a college in Malvani. On the Versova land,the trust has deviated from the purpose of allotment and has set up an engineering college – the Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology. The trust has now sought permission to convert the user as a college,but this is yet to be regularised,an official said.
With institutions promoted by top politicians dominating the list of beneficiaries,the Maharashtra government is yet to modify the criteria for valuation of such land that is based on norms fixed 18 and 35 years ago.
It continues to rely on a May 11,1984 government resolution that specifies allotments for schools be made at 25 per cent of the plots value as per RR rates applicable on February 1,1976.
In the case of allotment for colleges,a June 30,1992 GR pegs the recovery amount as 50 per cent of the plots value as per RR rates applicable five years before allotment.
The Arpan Foundation backed by Congress MLA Baldev Khosa and the Zagdusingh Charitable Trust run by Congress MLA Ramesh Singh Thakurs family are among the other beneficiaries.
