CAG slams Mumbai housing society of babus, netas

Even as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has tightened the noose around those accused in the ongoing Adarsh housing society scam, another case of a plot being used by politicians and bureaucrats has come into focus.

Even as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has tightened the noose around those accused in the ongoing Adarsh housing society scam, another case of a plot being used by politicians and bureaucrats has come into focus.

On Wednesday, the opposition took on the state government over skewed land allotment norms, though which prime plots were handed out to a housing society of a few politicians and bureaucrats.

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The opposition said that the CAG report, which is yet to be tabled in the assembly, had slammed one such land allotment given to a housing society of legislators at Andheri in 2004.

The society in question, Ashirwad Housing Society, has 44 members who were given flats admeasuring 99.67 sq meters. As per government norms, members are entitled to flats in the range of 27.87 to 60.40 sq meters in consonance with their income. This criteria laid down for eligible members is the range of Rs2,500 to Rs12,500 per month.

The draft CAG report mentions names of 14 legislators and ministers, including environment minister Sanjay Deotale, employment guarantee scheme (EGS) minister Nitin Raut, and Bhagyashree Patil, wife of parliamentary affairs minister Harshawardhan Patil, who is the promoter of another housing society, Rajyog, in Versova. Bhagyashree has listed her monthly income at Rs 6,000 per month.

Patil has denied having another flat in Rajyog and pointed out that he was a promoter only on paper.

Others like Raut, Deotale were not available for comment despite repeated calls and SMSes sent by Hindustan Times.

The report also mentions that former minister Ranjit Kamble and legislator Chandrakant Chhajed have flats in both Rajyog and Ashirward.

“In case of the Aashirwad, the leaked report has alleged that it has allotted more area to members than what is permissible. The government should inquire into all this,” said Sena legislator Ramdas Kadam in the legislative council on Wednesday.

Leader of opposition Eknath Khadse said, “If the government does not table the report in a week, we will reveal the report in its entirety. This is a bid to shield the culprits.”

The CAG report on revenue has looked at how land, a prime asset of the state has been squandered away and misutilised.