The leaking of CAG report by the Opposition and the subsequent mud-slinging in the Assembly over “allotting lands at concessional rates to politicians” might force Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to bring about sweeping policy changes in the manner in which educational institutes and hospitals are allowed to exploit public space, especially in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik etc.
Highly-placed government sources told DNA that pressure was mounting from various quarters to take a relook at the old policies.
“The allocation of land for use of private institutions including-education, hospital, media and NGOs should be stopped, as in most cases they turn into a profit-making ventures adopting commercial route, thus pushing social services to the background,” they said, adding that, “Revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat in the new comprehensive land acquisition policies will revise the old policies.”
While he will need to elicit support from his own party members as well as the alliance partner, the NCP, for seeing the new policy through, the chief minister is likely to pronounce the government’s commitment to initiate it as an effective move to plug corruption.
Highly worried by the image-beating over the past few days, Chavan is now determined to place the CAG report in the state legislature assembly and the council on April 16.
Leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse, who leaked the CAG expose on the misuse of educational land by prominent Congress and NCP ministers, said, “What is appalling is the manner in which the cabinet ministers are trying to suppress the opposition voice by dragging us into fabricated land issues.”
This, while some Congress leaders wondered why concessions were granted for land awarded for sugar factories, spinning mills, power generation units, to media barons or captains of industrial houses for undertaking charity work. Are they not earning profit, is the question being asked in the corridors of power.
In fact, the CAG debate is likely to lead to a policy revision in industrial sectors where the state refunds the entire amount private players invest in mega-projects undertaken by the government.
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