Mumbai: The state cabinet’s decision to allot 5 hectares of plot in Koradi area of Nagpur to a trust headed by chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state BJP chief, for educational purposes has sparked a political storm. The finance and revenue department had raised objections over the allotment and the decision overrides them. As per the state government’s Ready Reckoner (RR) rate, the land allotted to Shri Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Sansthan is valued at Rs 4.8 crore.

According to the finance department, the trust is neither a renowned institution, nor has a “long experience” in the field of higher education, hence, it did not qualify for allotment. Sources told TOI that the proposal was presented in a cabinet meeting on Monday at the last minute and was not on the agenda. Furthermore, the report in TOI said that no discussion was held before passing the proposal and a prior note was also not circulated. The opposition alleges that the state government is looting public land.

“The Mahayuti govt has distributed Rs 5 lakh crore of public land. Prime land is being given at 25% of the RR rate,” Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged.

“When the MVA govt comes to power in two months, we will probe such cases,” NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh said.

“From Vinoba Bhave’s slogan that all land belongs to Govinda, the BJP’s slogan is all land belongs to Devabhau (Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis) and he will distribute it to whoever he wants,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged.

Meanwhile, Bawankule, responded to the allegations and said no politics should happen around a religious institution.

“This is not my trust. I am just the president and the person holding the post changes every two years. There should be no politics around a devasthan (religious institution),” he said.

“The department has supported the allotment,” Revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil from BJP, whose department sent the proposal, said.

It said in an altered proposal that instead of direct allotment, the trust should instead apply for the same under the 2019 policy for land allotment. Under this policy, the district authorities are required to advertise the plot and check applications.

The Shri Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Sansthan had on November 29, 2023, applied for direct allotment of the land to establish a nursing college, junior college, science-arts-commerce college, and skill development centres. The revenue department had moved the proposal this month. However, the finance department had rejected it saying, “The trust does not have long experience in the field of higher and technical education. Nor does it qualify for direct allotment on the grounds of being a renowned institution.”

The finance department also cited a Nagpur collector report, which said the trust was not involved in research activities.

“It works in activities for the handicapped and deprived sections. But this work is intermittent and does not require permanent land,” the report said.

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