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Chhagan Bhujbal in land-lease defaulters’ list in south Mumbai

Many biggies in defaulters' list of land-lease renewals

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Plots worth thousands of crore or equivalent to 12 times the size of Oval Maidan await renewal of lease with the city collectorate. One of the 639 defaulters is imprisoned Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Chandrakant Bhujbal. If these leases are renewed, it will make the collectorate richer by over Rs 3,000 crore. All of these land parcels are in south Mumbai.

There are also many other plots within south Mumbai whose renewals are due, but they fall under the jurisdiction of either the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)or the Mumbai Port Trust.

Under the collectorate's ambit, in south Mumbai, there is a total land area of10,95,222.14 sq m. Of these, the BMC alone occupies 10%. Bhujbal's plot in Mazgaon is spread over 38.46 sq m. Though he was home minister and deputy chief minister, he did not renew its lease, due from January 1, 1973. In the same year, he was elected as corporator from Mazgaon on a Shiv Sena ticket. Till 1984, he was leader of opposition in the civic body.

In the collectorate's records, even the then Royal Indian Navy, now Indian Navy, is a defaulter (7,416.17 sq m). So are the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking, Western Railway etc. Interestingly, even the first citizen of the state – the Governor – finds mention in the list of defaulters. As per records, "Governor of Maharashtra", with an area of 325.44 sq m, too, hasn't got the lease renewed after it got expired on September 30, 1988.

In the recent past, only nine leases, accounting for 10,765.37 sq m, have been renewed. "Though leases of gymkhanas have expired, since a policy for them is yet to be formalised, those survey numbers (details) are not mentioned," said Dr Ashwini Joshi, collector, Mumbai city. There are over 8 gymkhanas in south Mumbai, including the Bombay Gymkhana.

According to her, the defaulters have to apply for lease renewals within a month. "As per a government resolution, notices to all leaseholders have been sent, but since their responses were inadequate, a public appeal had to be made," she said.

Earlier, the state government had the powers to renew leases and collect the revenue, but from December 2012, collectors have been entrusted with this task. "We expect a huge amount through these renewals. I cannot state a specific figure," said Joshi. If there is an illegal transfer, a different charge will be applicable. This fee varies from case to case.

Top defaulters

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (1,10,477.73 sq m)
Acworth Leper Asylum at Wadala (68,768.75 sq m)
The Bombay Xaverian Corporation Ltd at Mahim (44,272.54 sq m)
Shapoorji Bomanjee Billimoria KT at Mazgaon (38,816.89 sq m)
Rustum Behramji Colah Minoo Murzaban Dalal at Mazgaon (25,506.89 sq m)
His Highness Sultan Mahomed Shah Ali Aga Khan (20,332.94 sq m)

Total defaulters 639
Total renewals 9

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