Sunil Gavaskar to pay Mhada Rs 3.4 lakh

Cautious after the Hema Malini plot controversy, the state government has reminded cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar to pay outstanding dues of Rs 3.46 lakh for a plot given to him in 1988 at Bandra, which is lying unused. Sources from Maharashtra Housing Development Authority (Mhada) confirmed that the former India captain has agreed to pay the dues and is soon going to build a sports academy for which the plot was allotted.

Gavaskar Trust was allotted the 2,000 sq mt plot opposite to Rang Sharada in Bandra in 1988. The terms and conditions of the agreement were revised three times — in 1999, 2002 and 2007. However, the trust did not pay the entire lease amount to Mhada for some period.

“Mr Gavaskar had come to us and agreed to pay the dues of Rs 3.46 lakh after we sent reminder to him. He said that he was soon going to start sports activities on the plot for which it was allotted,” an official from Mhada said on condition of anonymity.

Mr Gavaskar could not be reached for comment after contacting his public relations officer.

Sources in the Mhada said the authority is reviewing plots given to people for various activities. It is also checking if the plots are used for the purposes they were given for. The government is going cautious on the land allotments after some controversies arose about land allotment recently, the sources said. There was also discussion that the government should take back the plot if not used for the purpose it was given. However, the Mhada is following a due process of communicating with the owners if plots are lying unused, the sources said.

The state government recently attracted flak for giving a plot in suburban Andheri at a meagre price of Rs 35 per sq ft to actress Hema Malini. Hundreds of acres of land in the state had been given away earlier under a government policy. The beneficiaries include politicians like Sharad Pawar, Pratibha Patil, D.Y. Patil and Narayan Rane; artists such as Naushad Ali and Hari Prasad Chaurasia; hospitals like Bombay, Lilawati, Kokilaben Ambani Hospital and institutes like Cricket Club of India and several gymkhanas. Revenue minister Eknath Khadse gave this information in the Assembly.