Maharashtra rural development minister Jayant Patil gave his deposition before the Adarsh inquiry commission on Thursday. He said that the decision to give the government land to the Adarsh society on an occupancy basis was taken by the revenue department and not the finance department.
Mr Patil was the finance minister from 1999 to 2003 when this decision was taken, and former chief minister Ashok Chavan was the revenue minister during this period.
When the inquiry commission’s counsel examined Mr Patil, he maintained, “It was the decision by the revenue department to give the land on an occupancy basis and not on lease. Hence, the finance ministry did not interfere as the decision fitted into the government resolution dated July 9, 1999.”
Earlier, in his deposition, Mr Chavan had claimed that the decision of land allotment was taken by then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.
Further, Mr Patil explained as to why the land was charged at only 20 per cent of the total market value.
“The reason that the government decided to grant the land at 80 per cent loss was because it was part of the plan to be sympathetic towards families who do not have a house in the city and have the ability to pay market rate, which were mentioned in the GR. This GR was designed for the needy and low-income group people,” said the minister.
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Ncp distances itself from ‘invite’ to leone
Umesh Mohite
Mumbai, Aug. 9
Even as posters of the film Jism 2 were removed from BEST buses after a complaint was lodged by the NCP’s women wing, actress Sunny Leone has reportedly accepted NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad’s dahi handi invitation creating controversy. The party, however, has distanced itself from Mr Awhad’s dahi handi celebrations and said that it is his personal event.
Professor Prathiba Naithani, crusader against obscenity along with the NCP women’s wing president MLC Vandana Chavan, had approached the municipal commissioner and mayor demanding the removal of Jism 2 posters. While the civic body has obliged them by removing the posters, self-styled crusaders against obscenity are unhappy with the police, for not paying any heed to their complaints.