It was after RTI activist Anil Galgali questioned the idea behind allotting a piece of land to actress-turned-politician Hema Malini after receiving the information through right to information application.
With chief minister Devendra Fadnavis taking decision on preparing a new policy for allotment of government land at concessional rates for initiatives aimed at larger public interest, he has conveyed it to his cabinet rivals that he would always have the last word.
It was after RTI activist Anil Galgali questioned the idea behind allotting a piece of land to actress-turned-politician Hema Malini after receiving the information through right to information application.
After media reports published in the last week of December 2015 regarding the same, Eknath Khadse had made it clear that Malini had first applied for the land in 1996 and she was given the temporary possession of the plot in 1998.
Stating that the plot has not been provided for building a bungalow, Khadse said: "She would be teaching Kathak over there and the state government has provided the plot for preserving the art and culture, which is important."
Sources close to chief minister's office informed dna that after media reports regarding the allotment of plot, the chief minister — taking in to account the image of the government — was promoted to take this decision.
Fadnavis when contacted by media persons on Friday had made it clear that he has given the directions to take steps towards scrapping the Government Resolution (GR) of 1984 that allowed land meant for cultural or educational purposes to be given on lease at 25% of 1976 rates. Interestingly, Khadse, who is at the helm of the revenue department, being a minister was not asked to take the decision and chief minister took this decision.
Khadse had handed over the orders of allotment of plot ad-measuring 2,000sqmt at Amboli (Andheri) to Malini's Natya Vihar Kala Kendra Charity Trust in December 2015. He told media persons that while giving the plot, he had asked the actress-dancer to maintain the garden adjacent to this plot.
He said: "She would also be providing training to a few students at subsidized rates. It has not happened that she applied and we allotted the plot in one day. The plot has been given for a good purpose."
On being asked about the issue, a senior minister, on the condition of anonymity, said the chief minister has superseding powers but the decision would come to Khadse first since it is pertaining to his department and then would be sent before the cabinet.
Refuting that there is any confrontation within the cabinet colleagues, the minister said that there is no need for chief minister to prove that he has superseding powers since all the ministers know this.
Cold war
Sources informed dna that the cold war between Khadse and the chief minister could result in changes during the reshuffle of the senior bureaucrats. It is likely that as a fall out of retirement of two additional chief secretaries namely Anand Kulkarni, there could be a reshuffle of senior bureaucrats and Fadnavis would carry forward the cold war during the same in a befitting manner.
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