Ex-CM wanted to ink deal on day he stepped down

MUMBAI: If you thought scam-hit former chief minister Ashok Chavan’s final days in office were spent steadfastly staying away from “dealing” in any more land-related matters, think again. Despite being under fire over the Adarsh housing society scam, the chief minister’s office seemed keen to clear another mega land deal.
As per ready-reckoner rates for the plot, the piece of land is worth Rs 439 crore.
According to available information, the CM’s office on November 9, 2010, sought a file regarding a redevelopment proposal for a 229-acre plot at Shivaji Nagar in Govandi. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had accepted Chavan’s resignation as CM the same day. He was caretaker CM for two days, before Prithviraj Chavan took over.
Sai ETCO Developers and Private Ltd, a part of the Shree Sai Group of Companies, had proposed rehabilitation of 35,000 slum-dwellers existing on the plot under the contentious 3K clause of the Slum Act, which empowers the government to allot a large slum cluster to a builder without inviting tenders or allowing competing builders to participate in the project.
The land sought for is reserved for municipal housing and many other public reservations.
Also, the movement of the file related to the Shivaji Nagar proposal began gathering momentum from November 1, 2010. Ashok Chavan had offered to resign on October 30. An approval for the proposal could have been blocked by an adverse remark by the administrative head of the housing department. Sources said Prithviraj Chavan had sought details of the file.
Two other 3K projects cleared during Ashok Chavan’s term—he approved them in September—were on Thursday scrapped by Prithviraj Chavan. Approvals granted to four more 3K proposals between 2008 and 2009 are also being reviewed. Ashok Chavan approved three of them.
Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary Kirit Somaiya has filed a petition in the Bombay HC claiming that all 3K proposals were allotted in a dubious manner.