MC decided that 80% flats would be 650 sq ft: Promoter

One of the main promoters of the controversial Adarsh society, Ram Chandra Thakur, said on Friday that the managing committee had decided in 2004 that 80 per cent of the flats in the society would be of 650 square feet area.

One of the main promoters of the controversial Adarsh society, Ram Chandra Thakur, said on Friday that the managing committee had decided in 2004 that 80 % of the flats in the society would be of 650 square feet area.

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Deposing before the two-member commission set up to probe the scam, Thakur, agreed with his letter dated September 23, 2004 addressed to the principal secretary, Revenue and Forest Department.

“In para 3 of this letter it was stated that 80 % of the dwelling units of our scheme are likely to be of only 650 square feet. This was decided by the managing committee of the society. The committee could decide as to how many flats could be accommodated in the building. It was according to the income criteria but a person entitled to a bigger flat could opt for a smaller one,” said Thakur, on his third day of questioning.

Originally, the society had decided that the size of all flats would be 650 square feet. Later, it got more FSI, and hence some flats became bigger.

Thakur said that in the original plot, they would have constructed a building consisting of 2BHK flats of 650 square feet. He also said that they had met the then revenue minister, Ashok Chavan, on June 2, 2000, and requested a plot for the society.

“Brigadier Wanchoo and Shri Kanhaiyalal Gidwani were also present in the said meeting. In this meeting a request was made to Shri Ashok Chavan for allotment of government land to the society,” said Thakur.

The Adarsh scam grabbed national headlines as it was found that a cabal of politicians, bureaucrats and army officials had allegedly flouted all rules to bag plush apartments in the plush Colaba area.