Mumbai, July 2 (IANS) The Maharashtra government on Thursday admitted that conditions governing the transfer and redevelopment of a 27-acre land parcel in Kandivali (West), originally earmarked for Mathadi workers, had been violated and announced a comprehensive probe into the matter.

Replying to a starred question raised by MLA Haroon Khan in the Legislative Assembly, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said directions would be issued to the District Collector to reclaim 26,900 square metres of unconstructed surplus government land that was included in the redevelopment arrangement without prior permission.

Originally, 27 acres of land under Survey No 149 in Kandivali (Borivali taluka) was allotted to the Cloth Market and Shops Board. It was subsequently transferred to the ‘Vishal Sahyadri Co-operative Housing Society.’

Under this arrangement, 11,254 sq meters of land went to the Vishal Society, 334 sq meters to a Ganesh Temple, 2,000 sq meters to the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, and the remaining 99,116 sq meters were leased to the Vishal Sahyadri Society.

During the conversion of this Class-II land to Class-I status, the government had collected Rs 42.07 crore as premium and Rs 74.09 crore as stamp duty, said the Minister.

Bawankule said violations were detected in relation to extensions granted for construction deadlines, commercial use of the land and subsequent transfers. While Rs 21.67 crore had earlier been recovered to regularise some of these breaches, legal and procedural irregularities remained.

“The Inspector General of Registration (IGR), Pune, will conduct an inquiry into the stamp duty irregularities and loopholes within the next 15 days. The entire data determining whether there was any manipulation at the lower administrative levels will reach the government in 7 to 15 days,” Minister Bawankule stated.

Furthermore, because a 26,900 sq meter area was included in the agreement with the developer without obtaining prior permission from the District Collector, this has been ruled a major breach of terms. Orders will be issued to take immediate possession of this land, he said.

Minister Bawankule assured that common citizens and Mathadi workers residing in existing houses and built-up housing societies on the land will receive full protection. The government plans to convert these lands into ‘Freehold’ status to grant occupants complete ownership rights.

Participating in the discussion, local MLA Yogesh Sagar raised the pending housing issue of the Mathadi workers. “Around 1,250 to 1,300 families of Mathadi workers, who used to carry cloth bales on their heads back in 1969-70, reside here. Even today, applications from many workers’ children remain pending. Therefore, instead of a blanket reclamation of the 26,900 sq meter surplus land, houses should be built for the Mathadi workers on that site,” he demanded.

Responding to the demand, the Revenue Minister stated, “Although directions have been given to reclaim the land for now due to the breach of terms, the government remains committed to delivering justice to Mathadi workers. We will hold a meeting with the concerned society and MLA Yogesh Sagar. If 1,600 to 2,000 houses are genuinely going to be built for the workers, the government is fully prepared to allot that land for the workers’ housing after charging the required premium. We do not object to the developer receiving a ‘sale component,’ but the government will not compromise on the rightful homes of the original Mathadi workers.”

–IANS

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