The Hindu : National : Munde seeks probe into dereservation of plot

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Thursday, Mar 24, 2005

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National

Munde seeks probe into dereservation of plot

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, MARCH 23. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader in the Maharashtra Assembly, Gopinath Munde, alleged today that the ruling Democratic Front Government had dereserved a 10,000 square feet plot meant for an art gallery in the posh suburb of Bandra and allotted it to a prominent film star.

Mr. Munde told reporters that it was one of 67 plots reserved for public purposes such as schools, colleges, hospitals, playgrounds and green belts in the city development plan, but were dereserved by the government in the last four years, abusing powers vested in it in the Maharashtra town planning rules.

The urban development department of the State Government directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to effect the "change of user" in respect of these plots, from the public purpose to residence to benefit the builders and developers in the last four years.

A few days ago, Mr. Munde had made the charge in the State Assembly while speaking on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the Legislature. The Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, had replied that he would certainly look into the alleged dereservation if Mr. Munde furnished the details to the government.

The BJP leader wrote a letter to the Chief Minister enclosing the list of 67 plots. He released the letter without the list today.

Mr. Munde has demanded an inquiry by a retired High Court judge and staying of the dereservation in all 67 cases pending the inquiry.

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