The Maharashtra Urban Development Department, headed by former Chief Minister and current Deputy Chief
Minister Eknath Shinde, has approved the lease of a nearly two-acre vacant plot in Sion to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for a period of 30 years. The land has been allotted at a one-time premium of Rs 9.72 crore with an annual rent of Rs 10,186. The plot is permitted to be used for medical and educational purposes.
Congress MP and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad has strongly objected to the land allotment, terming it “illegal and unethical”, and accused the state government of favouring organisations close to the BJP ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
Condemning the move, Gaikwad said, “This arbitrary allotment of land to organisations aligned with the BJP just weeks before the BMC elections is completely wrong.”
As per the Government Resolution (GR), the plot located in the F/North Ward, measuring 7,658.33 square metres, has been converted into leasehold land and granted to the VHP under Section 92(D) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. The proposal was submitted by the Deputy Commissioner (Improvement), BMC, and approved by the state government.
Expressing shock over the decision, Gaikwad alleged that the allotment was made at the BJP’s behest. “First, slum land was handed over to favoured builders. Now, prime vacant land is being gifted to favoured organisations. On one hand, the BMC is auctioning plots to raise funds as it is on the brink of financial crisis, and on the other, prime plots are being allotted to select organisations. Such decisions just before the civic polls are illegal and unethical,” she said.
Questioning the rationale behind the move, Gaikwad added that healthcare and education are mandatory functions of the BMC and should be undertaken by the civic body itself. “The VHP has no experience in healthcare or hospital operations. On what grounds is a gift worth crores being given to it?” she asked.
The GR further states that Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034 will apply to the plot and that its use will be strictly limited to medical and educational purposes. It also clarifies that the entire responsibility for ensuring permissible use will rest with the Municipal Commissioner. Both the one-time premium and the annual lease rent must be paid as per the schedule fixed by the BMC.
In a similar earlier instance, in October last year, the state cabinet had approved the allotment of a 6,320 sq metre plot in Wadala, valued at around Rs 74 crore, to the Veer Savarkar Charitable Trust for educational purposes.
