Maharashtra CM land(s) in trouble

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New Delhi: After land deals of Bollywood stars came under the scanner in the recent past, it's now Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's turn to face the heat.

Documents available with CNN-IBN show that the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) may have bent rules to give a 55-acre plot of land to Deshmukh's charitable trust.

Questions are now being raised about the legality of the land allotted to Deshmukh's Manjra charitable trust that plans to set up the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, an agricultural science centre in Latur.

Documents available with CNN-IBN show how the MIDC twisted rules to give this 55-acre plot to Deshmukh's charitable trust.

While the actual cost of the plot is Rs 115 per metre the Manjra trust had to pay a mere Rs 5 per acre.

The same trust that runs an Ayurvedic college and hospital in Latur was given a 4 acre plot at just Rs 25 per metre even though the market price is Rs 115 per metre.

But these deals have clearly disturbed many locals in the sugarcane district. One of the local Rajendra Gilda objected to the special preference being given to the CM's trust for land allotments.

Gilda says, “He has taken 100s of acres of land at the rate of 50 paise per square foot. Today, if anyone wants to set up an industry, even he does not get land."

Gilda also points out several other instances where government plots have been sold to the trust owned by the Deshmukh’s at subsidised rates.

But MIDC officials justify that the deals were as per their policy.

MIDC Joint Chief Executive officer Tanaji Satre says, “It's MIDC's policy to give five per cent land for community purpose. It's under this policy that we have given this land."

The issue is now taking a political twist with Opposition parties raising questions about the legitimacy of so much land being owned by the CM's family-owned charitable trust.

Former BJP MLA Shivaji Kavekar says, “He has purchased 4,15,000 acres of land for which he has paid MIDC about Rs 80 lakh. If this was sold to any other industrialist, then MIDC would have got Rs 4 crore 60 lakh. MIDC, therefore has had a loss of Rs 4 crore 20 lakh."

Though sources close to Chief Minister claim its a politically motivated charge, it looks like Vilasrao will have to face several questions on this issue from Opposition parties in the upcoming state Assembly Monsoon Session.