Author: S Balakrishnan
Publication: The Times of India
Date: April 4, 2006
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1475481,curpg-2.cms
Builders in Mumbai are up in arms over what
they call extortion by touts claiming to front for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
(DMK).
As per a notification issued by the Union
ministry of environment and forests in July, 2004, any project, among other
things, costing upwards of Rs 50 cr should be cleared by it.
Given the skyrocketing realty prices, almost
all projects in the city now require a clearance by the Union environment
ministry.
"Once our files go to Delhi, these touts
call us and demand anything upwards of Rs 100 per sq ft of the area we would
be allowed to build if the project is cleared.
They say that the money is to be given to
the DMK which is fighting the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu,"a prominent
builder of the western suburbs told TOI.
Apparently, the DMK is worried about the huge
war chest the ruling AIADMK, led by chief minister J Jayalithaa, has readied
for the polls.
"These touts have divided the Mumbai-Thane
belt into different zones and depending on the market prices prevailing in
a particular area they specify the rate at which the money is to be paid,"another
builder added.
"These agents are doing these things
behind the back of A Raja, Union minister for environment who belongs to the
DMK. They ask for funds even when the environment committee has approved a
project and posted its findings on the ministry's website,"another developer
said.
Raja was unavailable for comment. When contacted,
his personal assistant said he was busy at a meeting with DMK president M
Karunanidhi and would return the call.
What has upset city builders is the brazenness
of the agents. One of them, based in Mumbai, has gone to the extent of mentioning
the rate in an e-mail he has circulated among certain leading developers.
"I was shocked when I received the e-mail. But I have refused to pay
the agent,"a Thane builder said.
The TOI has a copy of the e-mail. The agent
is also known to "get things done"at the state pollution control
board.
