A deadline of Monday set by the seller to complete formalities of the purchase of a house in London where BR Ambedkar studied in the 1920s has spurred action in Mumbai, where the proposal has been going through various stages in the Maharashtra government for several months.
Differences between the social justice department and the finance department over the mode of remittance of the funds has reportedly delayed the process of acquisition of the house. The owner of the house set Monday as deadline to seal the deal. The government has now managed to extend the deadline by 10 days and claimed that the deal for house will be completed by September 4.
The delays in Mumbai were seen here as “indecision” and the seller conveyed his “disappointment” and the Monday deadline in a letter from the Goldschmidt and Howland estate agent to the Indian high commission last week. Sources told HT that the purchase of the house on King Henry’s Road in Chalk Farm, London, is now “likely to happen”.
“The difference between the prices quoted by the two valuation agencies is minimal and its matter of only negotiations. The seller has quoted Rs 31 crore, while the two valuations have assessed Rs 29.90 and Rs 30 crore as the market price of the property. We have made budgetary allocation of Rs 40 crore to accommodate incidental expenses such as taxes and registration expenses and immediate expenses on maintenance,” said Ujjwal Uke, principal secretary, Maharashtra social justice department.
{{/usCountry}}“The difference between the prices quoted by the two valuation agencies is minimal and its matter of only negotiations. The seller has quoted Rs 31 crore, while the two valuations have assessed Rs 29.90 and Rs 30 crore as the market price of the property. We have made budgetary allocation of Rs 40 crore to accommodate incidental expenses such as taxes and registration expenses and immediate expenses on maintenance,” said Ujjwal Uke, principal secretary, Maharashtra social justice department.
{{/usCountry}}Social justice minister Rajkumar Badole has now approached the Centre demanding to allow the state government to deposit the money with the Reserve Bank of India and which will be remitted to the Indian high commission in London. “The acquisition is historical because it is not just a house but the emotions of all Indians are associated with it,” India’s deputy high commissioner Varinder Paul said.