Ramdas Athawale wanted 101 acre in BKC
Published: Thursday, Sep 22, 2011, 7:02 IST
By Ninad Siddhaye | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
Republican Party of India president Ramdas Athawale recently wrote to
the Chief Minister demanding a whopping 101 acre land in Bandra-Kurla
Complex (BKC). While one of the two plots were for a Pali language
university and vipassana centre, the other plot was for an old age
asylum.
In a letter written to the then Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar
Gaikwad, Athawale stated that he needed the land to start a Vipassana
centre anda university for Pali Language in BKC.
"I wish to start a Vipassana centre of International standards in BKC.
Moreover, I also wish to start a huge library, a convention centre
where a number of social, educational, cultural programmes can be
organised. Also, my plan is to start a university of Pali language and
I also need land to start Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan, which will
have computer training centre," says a letter written by Athawale in
November 2010.
What is most interesting isthat Athawale demanded a whopping 100 acre
for the same. In another letter written in June 2011, Athawale
demanded another acre land — this time to set up an old age asylum in
BKC.
Athawale wrote both the letters to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan,
which was forwarded for "consideration" to the Mumbai Metropolitan
Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the Special Planning
Authority (SPA) of the BKC area. Both the proposals were studied by
the authority officials and subsequently rejected. The information
came to light when RTI activist Anil Galgali sought details of
Athawale's plans.
In the RTI reply, additional metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas
had an interesting remark. "Do we have 100 acres of land available in
the first place?" questioned Srinivas. Officials of the MMRDA land
cell clarified that MMRDA's total land kitty, including BKC andWadala
Truck terminus, was not even 100 acres. They said there was no
reservation for an old age asylum and a university or even a community
hall.
When contacted, Athawale confirmed that he had written letters to the
CM about vipassana centre, Dr Ambedkar Bhavan and the old age asylum.
"They have told me that there is no space," said Athawale. However, he
was not even aware that BKC did not even have 50% of land available to
meet his demands.
Galgali alleged that it was the nexus between a state bureaucrat and
Athawale which resulted in the later asking for huge plots in BKC. "It
is pertinent to note that in spite of knowing that BKC is essentially
meant for business activities, Athawale made exorbitant demands of
huge plots for his own benefits."
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