Prithviraj Chavan orders probe into 33 land deals

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday ordered an inquiry into 33 suspected land scams and vouched for a comprehensive policy decision to bring transparency in land deals to plug corruption and curb scandals.

No one would be spared, not even officials, if they are found complicit in granting permission for construction or approving land deals in violation of the norms, Chavan said, adding construction without environmental clearances, too, was unacceptable. He said all such constructions would be inquired into.

Chavan also promised action against companies who have not started any activity on the industrial plots on about 16,000 acres of land in the MIDC industrial estates across the state. “The matter,” he said, “is serious, and the government will take back the plots, if such action is necessary”.

Replying to the resolution moved by the leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse earlier in the day, the chief minister promised a comprehensive policy relook at land registration and tendering process.

He hinted that the process would be simplified so that there was no discrepancy or room for corruption. The state government would try and put all information about tendering process and land deals on its website on the lines of the central government, he said.

Hinting at a major policy move, he said the government would first ensure complete satisfactory rehabilitation of the project-affected-people before giving a go-ahead to the projects.

Initiating the concluding resolution in the legislative assembly, Khadse launched a tirade against the Democratic Front (DF) government listing out land scams across the state, particularly in Mumbai. From Mahim to Kandivali, prime plots, some meant for the slum dwellers’ rehabilitation, have been transferred to big builders for the construction of huge towers in violation of every single law, he said, giving a list of 13 such towers, each more than 60 floors tall, under construction in central and south Mumbai.

“It’s turning out to be a year of huge scams in the state’s golden jubilee year,” Khadse said. The opposition charged the ruling members with “bending laws and rules to swindle prime public plots”.

“I have submitted the documentary evidence in 33 such land grab cases by ministers and ruling members but there is no action yet,” Khadse said. “These land pieces are worth crores of rupees.” Most of the plots were meant to rehabilitate the poor slum dwellers, he alleged.