‘MAYOR DELAYED ACQUISITION OF KURLA LAND, SHOULD RESIGN’

MUMBAI: A day after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) general body passed a proposal to acquire a controversial 2,000 square metre plot in Kurla, the Congress alleged that the mayor, Vishwanath Mahadeshwar too was part of the “scam” and he should resign.

The general body had earlier rejected the proposal to acquire the land reserved as open space, citing encroachments. However, following flak, the Shiv Sena passed the proposal on Thurdsay. The Congress has now said that Mahadeshwar knew about the land, but he delayed the acquisition for two months.

“These are attempts by the opposition to defame the Sena. We have now passed the proposal as the Sena has always favoured keeping open plots free for Mumbaiites,” said Mahadeshwar.

On Friday, Ravi Raja, leader of opposition in the BMC and Rakhi Jadhav, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, produced a letter which was written by civic commissioner Ajoy Mehta on October 9. The letter read that if the plot is not acquired before July 23, 2019, its reservation as open space would lapse.

The letter also mentioned that the proposal to acquire the land was earlier rejected thrice, when it was presented before the improvement committee and the general body. The letter was a request to pass the proposal which was again sent to the improvement committee on November 5. However, the proposal was rejected at the general body meeting on November 29.

“This letter is proof that the mayor delayed the proposal for over two months. It is clear the mayor too is involved in the scam. He should take responsibility and resign from his post,” Raja said.

However, Mahadeshwar said that as the plot was encroached and was in the funnel zone, there was no scope for development.

“We opposed the acquisition as BMC would have to spend ₹3 crore to acquire the land and rehabilitate encroachers. We know how important green space is and have passed the proposal.”