'Reserve Indu mill land for memorial'

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), on Thursday, demanded that 12.5 acres of the India United Mill No 6, also known as Indu Mill compound, be reserved for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's memorial.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), on Thursday, demanded that 12.5 acres of the India United Mill No 6, also known as Indu Mill compound, be reserved for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's memorial.

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Nawab Malik, spokesperson, NCP, said: "Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan should reserve the land for the memorial under the Maharashtra Region Town Planning Act. It will ensure that it won't be used for any other purpose. Such a decision will make people realise that the government is serious about the memorial project."

The land in Dadar in central Mumbai, once owned by the now-defunct Indu Mill, is currently under the possession of the National Textile Corporation (NTC), which is yet to hand over the plot to the state government.

"While the National Textile Corporation and the textile ministry want Rs3,000 crore for the land, the state government wants it for free," he added.

According to Malik, the NTC could earn enough money by transferring the development rights in open market.

The state Congress, too, has asked Chavan to facilitate land transfer before the death anniversary of Ambedkar that falls on December 6.

Chavan had earlier told HT that while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved of the demand, the final decision would be taken by textile minister Anand Sharma. According to sources, Sharma, a Congressman, is keen on seeking Parliament's approval.