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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, Dec 1: A prime plot in Koregaon Park area, allotted to backward class employees of Pune Municipal Corporation by the civic administration for housing purpose, is allegedly being grabbed by a prominent city builder, keeping the civic officials in dark.
Congress corporator Sanjay Balgude and Nationalist Congress Party corporator Vilas Wadekar today told media persons that office bearers of the proposed housing society had violated all conditions in the agreement, which was done while selling the prime plot of land. Balgude and Wadekar today called on additional municipal commissioner Ashok Deshpande, who promised them to look into the case immediately.
According to the conditions, all the members of the proposed society were required to be from backward class and employees of the municipal corporation. They said a list of 40 members was submitted to the municipal commissioner, which was later accepted.
The sale deed was signed in October 1993 when society paid the first instalment of Rs 1.20 lakh. It was decided in the agreement that society should pay the remaining amount in nine annual installments. The agreement had also made it clear that the land had to be used for the purpose of housing and it would never be rented out, gifted or mortgaged.
Balgude and Wadekar said the society paid all the remaining amount of about Rs 11 lakh next year. This was followed by resignations of 22 members. The society then signed an MOU with one Nissar Pathan in March 1995. The society had agreed in the MOU that 22 members had resigned and had stated that Pathan should allot 500 square feet flat to 18 members while he was free to sale the remaining flats in the open market.
The corporators allege that almost all the society members had resigned at present except chairman and secretary. They said builder had constructed luxurious flats, which any civic employee could dreamt to purchase. They alleged that the builder had submitted a proposal of sanctioning Transfer of Develeopment Rights (TDR) after illegally constructing fifth floor. They said the office of the City Engineer had approved TDR proposal evene after negative remarks from the office of Development Plan office.
Balgude and Wadekar further alleged that the builder had even constructed an approach road at final plot no. 303 which also belong to municipal corporation. They said builder had also closed entire stilt, meant for parking purpose, with brick work.
Balgude and Wadeakr demanded that municipal corporation should take immediate legal action to prevent the builder from selling the flats in open market since society had violated all the conditions in the sale deed. They insisted that the plot was sold to backward class civic employees and the flats have to sold to them only if members had resigned. They also demanded inquiry whether members were forced to resign.
