The Times of India: Mumbai: Sunday, April 08, 2012.
Former Maharashtra CM and now Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's largesse extended beyond the prime Borivli property he allegedly granted to a trust founded by him. While the allotment and misuse of the Borivli taluka plot has been detailed in a yet-to-be tabled Comptroller and Auditor General report, a recent RTI query, filed before the suburban collector's office , has revealed that the Manjara Charitable Trust (MCT) was also allotted a 43,300 sq ft plot in Versova at a measly occupancy rate of Rs 6.73 per sq ft by the state revenue and forest (R&F ) department in 1994. Deshmukh held the revenue portfolio at the time.
On top of that, a huge adjoining plot of 1.55 lakh sq ft (1.4 hectare) was allotted to the trust on a 15-year lease at an annual rent of Rs 63,945. The R&F department allotted the 43,300 sq ft plot on January 29, 1994 on the condition that it would be used to develop a "secondary school in Marathi medium" while the 1.55 lakh sq ft plot was reserved for a playground.
Both plots abut the Versova creek and fall in the coastal regulation zone (CRZ-II ). But the trust did not adhere to the original conditions and instead used the smaller plot for an engineering college: the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology. Seven years later, the urban development department, then under Deshmukh, sanctioned a modification to the use of the plot, but the suburban collector (properties custodian ) said the office was not notified. The land for the playground lies unused even today.
The R&F department chose to allot the land to MCT though 14 other trusts and educational institutions had applied for the allotment. In 1994 itself, when queries were raised in the Assembly by the opposition over "preferential treatment" , the government cited MCT's plans of setting up a Marathimedium secondary school as a prime reason for preferring it over others.
Plot Thickens
The revenue & forests dept under Vilasrao Deshmukh granted a 43,000 sq ft plot to his family-run Manjara Charitable Trust in 1994 for a mere Rs 6.73 per sq ft ostensibly to run a Marathi-medium school. The trust then got the plot reservation modified without collector's consent and turned it into an engineering college An adjoining 1.55 lakh sq ft plot was allotted to the trust for a paltry annual rent of Rs 63,945 for a playground. This ground lies unused to this day. What's more, lease rent on the ground was not paid for 1st 6 years
'State turned blind eye to land breach by trust'
Manjara Charitable Trust, Founded By Vilasrao, Was Allotted Huge Plots At Concessional Rates
The Manjara Charitable Trust, founded by former state CM Vilasrao Deshmukh , is in the eye of a storm for yet another land deal. Documents obtained by civic activist Rajesh Mangela-who had filed the RTI query-from the collector's office show that not only was the Versova land allotted at a concessional rate, the Trust had diverted the orignal purpose forthe allotment without the collector's consent. Deshmukh was holding the revenue portfolio at the time.
But instead of building a Marathi-medium secondary school, the Trust used the plot to set up a building for the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.
The Trust agreed that it would not deviate from the "intended purpose of allotment" and complete construction work for the school within two years. No modification without prior written consent from the collector was permissible. The collector's office admitted that it was not aware of the modification of reservation, which was sanctioned by the state UD department in 2001. At the time, Deshmukh was the state CM.
Deshmukh's son Amit who is MCT's executive chairman said: "I will not be to comment on these allegations as I will have to refer to all the details. Someone from
my office will reply tomorrow (Sunday)." Deshmukh was not available for comment despite repeated SMSes and calls. In 2004, the collector submitted a report demanding the recovery of the additional amount as the land was not used for the intended purpose. The RTI documents contain no information to suggest that this was imposed by the state. While construction work was expected to be completed within two years-February 3, 1996-it went on till 2004. In 2000, the collector informed the government that no extension had been sought for completion of work. While strong financial capability was one reason to choose MCT over others, it was granted permission to mortgage the property. In 2005, MCT sought permission to commercially exploit 30% FSI of the school plot. From 1994-2000 , the trust did not pay the amount towards lease rent for the 1.55 lakh playground. From 1994 to 2000, the trust did not pay the lease rent for playground . It was paid only after the collector pulled up the trust.
At a media interaction in Pune, when asked about the yetto-be-tabled CAG report, Deshmukh said: "Whether the land was given as per the land disposal policy or not is a matter to be decided by the Public Accounts Committee. I will comment after April 16 when the report is likely to be presented in the House."
On top of that, a huge adjoining plot of 1.55 lakh sq ft (1.4 hectare) was allotted to the trust on a 15-year lease at an annual rent of Rs 63,945. The R&F department allotted the 43,300 sq ft plot on January 29, 1994 on the condition that it would be used to develop a "secondary school in Marathi medium" while the 1.55 lakh sq ft plot was reserved for a playground.
Both plots abut the Versova creek and fall in the coastal regulation zone (CRZ-II ). But the trust did not adhere to the original conditions and instead used the smaller plot for an engineering college: the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology. Seven years later, the urban development department, then under Deshmukh, sanctioned a modification to the use of the plot, but the suburban collector (properties custodian ) said the office was not notified. The land for the playground lies unused even today.
The R&F department chose to allot the land to MCT though 14 other trusts and educational institutions had applied for the allotment. In 1994 itself, when queries were raised in the Assembly by the opposition over "preferential treatment" , the government cited MCT's plans of setting up a Marathimedium secondary school as a prime reason for preferring it over others.
Plot Thickens
The revenue & forests dept under Vilasrao Deshmukh granted a 43,000 sq ft plot to his family-run Manjara Charitable Trust in 1994 for a mere Rs 6.73 per sq ft ostensibly to run a Marathi-medium school. The trust then got the plot reservation modified without collector's consent and turned it into an engineering college An adjoining 1.55 lakh sq ft plot was allotted to the trust for a paltry annual rent of Rs 63,945 for a playground. This ground lies unused to this day. What's more, lease rent on the ground was not paid for 1st 6 years
'State turned blind eye to land breach by trust'
Manjara Charitable Trust, Founded By Vilasrao, Was Allotted Huge Plots At Concessional Rates
The Manjara Charitable Trust, founded by former state CM Vilasrao Deshmukh , is in the eye of a storm for yet another land deal. Documents obtained by civic activist Rajesh Mangela-who had filed the RTI query-from the collector's office show that not only was the Versova land allotted at a concessional rate, the Trust had diverted the orignal purpose forthe allotment without the collector's consent. Deshmukh was holding the revenue portfolio at the time.
But instead of building a Marathi-medium secondary school, the Trust used the plot to set up a building for the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.
The Trust agreed that it would not deviate from the "intended purpose of allotment" and complete construction work for the school within two years. No modification without prior written consent from the collector was permissible. The collector's office admitted that it was not aware of the modification of reservation, which was sanctioned by the state UD department in 2001. At the time, Deshmukh was the state CM.
Deshmukh's son Amit who is MCT's executive chairman said: "I will not be to comment on these allegations as I will have to refer to all the details. Someone from
my office will reply tomorrow (Sunday)." Deshmukh was not available for comment despite repeated SMSes and calls. In 2004, the collector submitted a report demanding the recovery of the additional amount as the land was not used for the intended purpose. The RTI documents contain no information to suggest that this was imposed by the state. While construction work was expected to be completed within two years-February 3, 1996-it went on till 2004. In 2000, the collector informed the government that no extension had been sought for completion of work. While strong financial capability was one reason to choose MCT over others, it was granted permission to mortgage the property. In 2005, MCT sought permission to commercially exploit 30% FSI of the school plot. From 1994-2000 , the trust did not pay the amount towards lease rent for the 1.55 lakh playground. From 1994 to 2000, the trust did not pay the lease rent for playground . It was paid only after the collector pulled up the trust.
At a media interaction in Pune, when asked about the yetto-be-tabled CAG report, Deshmukh said: "Whether the land was given as per the land disposal policy or not is a matter to be decided by the Public Accounts Committee. I will comment after April 16 when the report is likely to be presented in the House."
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