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Pratibha's kin in another land grab

Pratibha's kin in another land grab

Author: Ganesh Kanate. Amravati
Publication: DNA India
Dated: July 9, 2007

Introduction: Family-run institution swallows Rs7 crore worth plot for annual rent of Rs2,150

Score one more for the land-grab­bing instincts of the kin of UPA presidential nomi­nee Pratibha Patil. A DNA investiga­tion shows that an educational insti­tution associated with Patti had grabbed a plot of land measuring 1,08,900 square feet in Amravati (150 km from Nagpur).

Its current market value is estimat­ed upwards of Rs7 crore while the annual lease rent is a princely Rs2,150.

A part of the land was originally reserved for use by the Amravati division group headquarters of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). It was instead allotted to the Vidya Bharti Shaikshanik MandaI, run by Patti's son Raosaheb Shekhawat, by the state government in violation of rules. Pratibha Patti herself was president of the institution some time ago.

DNA has in its possession all the five land record sheets showing how this huge plot had been allotted to the Mandal by the state govern­ment. But there is now a gag order in town. When contacted, the office of P Padmanabhan, group com­mander of the NCC's Amravati divi­sion, had this to say: "We have strict instructions from the 'top' not to talk, discuss or comment about any issue related to Mrs Patibha Patti and her institutions."

The process of grabbing this huge tract of land adjoining Vidya Bharti Mahavidyalaya began in 1992, when Patti's husband Devis­ingh Shekhawat was mayor of Am­ravati. Records with DNA show that the then district collector allot ted 1,08,900 sq ft of land from the original plot number 15 for various education-related activities on Feb­ruary 1,1993.

Vidya Bharti Shaikshanik Man­dal had proposed to use the land to house a students' consumer centre, a canteen, an employees' coopera­tive society and a hostel. According to the terms and conditions of the allotment, the institution was sup­posed to build all these facilities within one year. Till date, however, no construction has come up on the site. The allotment letter clearly says that if the institution violates any of the terms of allotment, the land can be taken back by the gov­ernment. However, despite the fact that the institution has flouted sev­eral norms, including not con­structing anything there, the land is still in its possession. In an earli­er Shekhawat land-grab (DNA, July 4), rules relating to the use of MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) were flouted. Patil apparently used MPLADS funds for financing an institution associated with her family - which is not allowed.

Meanwhile, what of the NCC's claim to the Amravati land? It may be noted here that the NCC used to hold regular Sunday parades on this ground for decades. But after the land was allotted to the Vidya Bharti Shaikshanik Mandal, it has been forced to hold its parades and annual camps at different grounds in different years.

Interestingly; the land record docu­ment issued by the office of Nazul tehsildar asks the Mandal to make the grounds available for Nee parades whenever the latter requisitions it. However, the same land record docu­ment also suggests that the land had been 'handed over' to the Mandal on an 'ownership basis'. How can any land be transferred on ownership basis and still be made available for other uses'?" asks a senior revenue officer from the Amravati district collectorate.

Attempts by DNA to contact An1ra­vati divisional commissioner Sudhir Kumar Goyal failed as he was report­edly on leave. Lokesh Chandra, addi­tional commissioner of Amravati di­vision was on tour: So was district col­lector Purushottam Bhapkar. Amra­vati district collector Ravindra Jadhav has a stock reply: "Everything done in my tenure is in accordance of law."


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