Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
Hospital plot: Mayor slams Cidco for terminating lease
Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane has said that NMMC has not erred in sub- leasing the plot given to it by City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) for a hospital in Vashi.
It was done with the intention of providing better medical services to the city residents, he said. He has also questioned Cidco on the rampant sub- leasing and change of use of its other plots in the city.
Earlier this week, Cidco issued a notice to NMMC, terminating its lease agreement with it for what it has termed is breach of terms and conditions set in the agreement. Cidco has objected to NMMC sub-letting portion of the plot area to FortisHiranandani Hospital.
While municipal commissioner Dinesh Waghmare refused to comment on the termination stating that the civic body is yet to receive it, Sonawane said, “This is an instance of health issue of the people of the city. NMMC has sub-leased the plot for a super- speciality hospital with the right intent of welfare of the people.”
He added, “It is the need of the residents. The NMMC cannot afford to provide such super speciality services and hence this arrangement was entered into.”
Taking on Cidco, he said, “If Cidco is giving NMMC such a notice, it should also take into account that there are several
plots which have been sub-leased and change of use has happened at a lot of places for commercial gains.”
Confirming that the order has been issued and that NMMC will get it soon, Cidco joint managing director V Radha said: “Our agreement with the NMMC is very clear. The plot has been leased to ensure that all the beds are provided to residents at zero cost. At the private hospital that NMMC has entered into an agreement with, only 10% beds have been reserved for the economically weaker sections. This is a blatant violation of the agreement.”
She added, “We are taking action against all those who have violated the terms of agreement with Cidco. There are a number of cases and it is not as if anyone particular has been singled out. We are going to come hard on all such violations.”