Probe Tardeo SRA project: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday in the Assembly ordered an inquiry into an M.P. mill compound SRA project at Tardeo. The project was approved by housing minister Prakash Mehta without informing the CM. However, Mehta pleaded “not guilty” and said he was ready to face any inquiry.

Opposition leaders Jayant Patil and Prithviraj Chavan had targeted Mehta over the issue. Without due permission from the CM, Mehta wrote on the file that the former had been informed. The project allows extra building rights to slum dwellers in M.P. mill compound that were transferred to another project meant for project affected people. According to development control rules, there is no such provision for transferring rights. However, the CM was not informed about the project approval and he halted it later. Patil alleged that Mehta took the decision directly to benefit the developer. Patil claimed that this would have helped the developer get Rs 500 to Rs 600 crore. Replying to this, the CM said, “We will inquire into the matter thoroughly. Mehta had taken the decision to give extra area to PAPs. However, final approval was not given. The housing department said that the proposal cannot come under the 3k scheme and hence I halted it.”

Mehta, who was also present in the house, said, “I am not guilty in this matter. I am ready to face any inquiry. I had discussed a few projects with the CM and thought that this project was also discussed. However, the file for the project inadvertently was not brought before the CM for discussion. But the remarks were given that the CM had been informed about the issue.”

The CM further said another inquiry would be conducted into former SRA official Vishwas Patil’s approval to 137 projects in the last month of his retirement. A report regarding this would be presented to the CM in 15 days.