Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadse today alleged a land scam to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and sought to establish business links between DB Realty’s Shahid Balwa and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s family.
Initiating a debate on the alleged nexus between land mafia and government officials, Khadse said all correspondence for government permission to construct a five-star hotel and an IT park on a government land in Yerwada, Pune was done by Balwa.
The government land was procured by Mukund Bhavan Trust in the early 1990s and added that it was not a charity trust.
“The partners are DB Realty and Panchsheel Tech Park.
Supriya Sule and her husband Sadanand Sule are the promoters of Panchsheel along with Atul Chordia, Varsha Chordia, Sagar Ishwardas Chordia and Purshottam Lohia,” he alleged.
Khadse said in 1964, a court had rejected claims of Mukund Bhawan Trust on the ownership of the government land in Yerwada.
“It was only after Srinivas Patil became collector of Pune in 1990, the land was transferred in the name of Mukund Bhawan Trust suo motu through an out of court settlement without any government directive,” he alleged.
Patil had joined the NCP and defeated current Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan from Karad Lok Sabha constituency later.
Khadse demanded a stay on the ongoing constructions and sought a CBI enquiry into the issue.
The Opposition Leader said he has great hopes on Chavan for his promise of transparent administration and thanked him for expediting the investigations into the Ramoshi Watan land scam in Pune and ensuring that 102 acre land was brought under government control.
On another case in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Khadse said 53 acres of land was allotted for low cost housing.
“5,000 houses could be constructed on seven acres of land.
But, the 2.5 floor space index (FSI) was given for the entire 53 acre plot.
Seven acres were reserved for housing while the idea was to give the rest for commercial purpose and without government approval, tenders were issued, Khadse said.
“DB Realty was not the original bidder, but came in the picture later,” he alleged and demanded that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan should order a stay on the deal and start investigations.
