The RPI chief had personal plans which were turned down by MMRDA.
Republican Party of India president Ramdas Athawale recently wrote to the Chief Minister demanding a whopping 101 acre land in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). While one of the two plots were for a Pali language university and vipassana centre, the other plot was for an old age asylum.
In a letter written to the then Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad, Athawale stated that he needed the land to start a Vipassana centre and a university for Pali Language in BKC.
“I wish to start a Vipassana centre of International standards in BKC. Moreover, I also wish to start a huge library, a convention centre where a number of social, educational, cultural programmes can be organised. Also, my plan is to start a university of Pali language and I also need land to start Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan, which will have computer training centre,” says a letter written by Athawale in November 2010.
What is most interesting is that Athawale demanded a whopping 100 acre for the same. In another letter written in June 2011, Athawale demanded another acre land — this time to set up an old age asylum in BKC.
Athawale wrote both the letters to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, which was forwarded for “consideration” to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the Special Planning Authority (SPA) of the BKC area. Both the proposals were studied by the authority officials and subsequently rejected. The information came to light when RTI activist Anil Galgali sought details of Athawale’s plans.
In the RTI reply, additional metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas had an interesting remark. “Do we have 100 acres of land available in the first place?” questioned Srinivas. Officials of the MMRDA land cell clarified that MMRDA’s total land kitty, including BKC and Wadala Truck terminus, was not even 100 acres. They said there was no reservation for an old age asylum and a university or even a community hall.
When contacted, Athawale confirmed that he had written letters to the CM about vipassana centre, Dr Ambedkar Bhavan and the old age asylum. “They have told me that there is no space,” said Athawale. However, he was not even aware that BKC did not even have 50% of land available to meet his demands.
Galgali alleged that it was the nexus between a state bureaucrat and Athawale which resulted in the later asking for huge plots in BKC. “It is pertinent to note that in spite of knowing that BKC is essentially meant for business activities, Athawale made exorbitant demands of huge plots for his own benefits.”
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