Adarsh panel questions former MMRDA chief

The Adarsh Commission on Monday questioned former Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner T Chandrashekhar on the issue of using two separate development control regulations (DCR) for the Adarsh housing society building.

The official,who began his deposition before the two-member panel on Monday,was questioned as to whether the DCR of 1989 and the DCR to 1991 could both be applied at different stages to the building. To the query,he said it was “certainly not” possible. He,however,admitted that he did not send any letter to the urban development department which questioned such an action. He also claimed that he did not do so as the state government “is the supreme authority” in such issues. Chandrashekhar sanctioned the construction of four floors above the plinth level to the controversial society. The commission also questioned him on why he took no steps in spite of the fact that the MMRDA would lose up to Rs.12 crore due to DCR 1991 being applied. He said,”For the sake of revenue,one cannot apply rules as per discretion.” He claimed he did not know the authority would lose the revenue because of application of the new DC regulations.