Dist collector begins razing Parab’s property in Dapoli
Manages to get HC reprieve on his other property until the next hearing on November 24
MUMBAI: The district collector of Ratnagiri struck the first blow on one of the two resorts – Sea Conch Beach Resort -- linked with former state minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab, on Tuesday. The former minister however managed to get a Bombay high court reprieve on his other property, Sai Resort, until the next hearing on November 24.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya has been at the forefront raising his voice against properties allegedly owned by Parab in Murud village, Dapoli tehsil, for alleged coastal regulation zone (CRZ) violations and demanded their demolition. In a show of brawn, he landed up at the Murud property with a large make-believe hammer on Monday night, almost as a prelude to the district collector’s action.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change as well as Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority directed action against the construction. The district collector has appointed a contractor for the demolition of the resorts at ₹92 lakh.
“We have begun the demolition of Sea Conch from today, while action against Sai Resort will be taken according to the HC directive.
“The contractor has a deadline of 90 days to complete the demolition. The cost of demolition will be recovered from the owners of the resorts,” said an official from the collector’s office. The market price of the two resorts is ₹7 crore.
“The demolition of the twin resorts has begun,” said Somaiya on Tuesday, from Dapodi, unmindful of the HC stay on Parab’s second property. “The district collectorate has taken over half an acre of government land encroached upon to build the reception area of Sea Conch. The twin resorts are examples of the previous Thackeray government’s corruption.”
Parab hit back at the BJP MP, saying he will file a criminal defamation case against the latter for “intentionally targeting” him. “I have been saying for some time now – Sai Resorts is owned by Sadanand Kadam, while Sea Conch belongs to Pushkar Mule. (Neither is associated with the political party.) There are at least 2060 such resorts, bungalows and houses built in the same fashion (by alleged violation of CRZ norms) in Ratnagiri district. If action is being taken against these two resorts, there should be similar action against others too,” Parab said.
Parab also questioned “Somaiya’s silence on the illegal constructions and the charges of illegality by the central agencies” against the politicians who have joined the BJP or Shinde camp of Shiv Sena.
“Why did Somaiya not reach the bungalow owned by union minister Narayan Rane even after the court order for its demolition?
“Somaiya had worked on contract to defame me and the Uddhav Thackeray-led government previously.
“I have already filed a civil suit for defamation. This will be followed by a criminal suit now,” concluded Parab.