CIDCO HOLDS DRAW TO ALLOT 140 PLOTS TO AIRPORT PAP

NAVI MUMBAI: Since its inception in 2009, the Navi Mumbai’s anti- corruption bureau ( ACB) has registered 40 cases till February this year.

Of the 40 cases registered, only one accused arrested by them has been convicted by the court till date.

According to data available with the ACB, of the accused tried in court, two were acquitted because of lack of concrete evidence to prove their involvement in the crime. NO. OF PLAINTS GOES UP As far as statistics with the ACB are concerned, the number of complaints has gone up significantly in the past one year.

People have been coming forward with more and more complaints against corrupt government officials in the satellite city.

The ACB registered around 21 cases in 2014 as opposed to 11

cases registered in 2013. LOW CONVICTION RATE In spite of the growing number of complaints, the conviction rate is very low.

According to Vivek Joshi, de puty superintendent of police, ACB, Navi Mumbai, “The cases registered by the anti- corruption bureau are tried by the special courts and not by regular courts. The special courts do not have sufficient manpower, which delays the judicial procedure.”

“However, the scenario has improved in recent times,” added Joshi. CHANGING PERCEPTIONS A couple of years ago, people would hesitate to come forward and register a complaint, said Joshi.

“Our branch in Navi Mumbai was set up i n 2009. But no case was registered that year. Likewise, we registered only 1 case in 2010,” he said.

Joshi has attributed this changing perception to the increased awareness among the people about the need to register corruption- related plaints with the ACB.

“We have undertaken various initiatives such as conducting meetings with residents and even performing street plays at public places to edu- cate the masses about corruption cases and how one can deal with them,” said Joshi.

“Besides this, we regularly visit gover nment of f i ces,” added Joshi.

“Recently, we have also started a helpline 1064 for people to register their complaints,” said Joshi.

Another ACB official on condition of anonymity said that confidentiality has helped the ACB gain the confidence of the people.

“We don’t reveal the names of the complainants, which gives the complainant the confidence to register a complaint with us. This has in turn resulted in more and more people wanting to register complaints as they feel that they can safely get cases registered against senior government officials,” said the ACB official. CBD BELAPUR: The City and Industrial and Development Corporation (Cidco) on Thursday conducted the fourth draw to distribute 140 plots to the airport project- affected people i n Pushpak Na g ar under the 22.5% developed land scheme.

The planning agency has acquired 671 hectares from residents in 10 villages for the upcoming international airport project in Panvel.

The computerised draw was held at Cidco Bhavan in CBD Belapur around 10.30am.

“The lottery was conducted for distribution of 140 plots in 34 blocks to airport projectaf f ected people i n Dapoli, Kopar, Kunde, Vahal, Manghar, Owala, Pargaon, Pargaon Dungi, Targhar, Ulwe, Vadghar and Vahal villages,” said Mohan Ninawe, Cidco’s chief public relations officer (PRO).

“Plots admeasuring 40 square metre to 6,870 square metre have been provided to projecthit under the 22.5% developed land scheme, which is a part of the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme,” added Cidco’s chief PRO.

Cidco had webcast the entire process of the draw to ensure transparency.

For the lucky draw, the planning agency procured a special software, which is certified by the Government of India I nterface and I nfor mation Technology and is protected by a security code.

A list comprising the names of the beneficiaries was displayed on the Cidco’s website and notice board.

Details such as t he plot number and area will now be dispatched to the deputy collector (land acquisition).

In due course of time, the allotment letter will be issued to the project-affected people and the lease deed will be executed on the said plot.