BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Thursday alleged that the Maharashtra government has waived a Rs 21 crore fine for “illegally” constructed buildings developed by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik’s Vihaang Group last year.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Thursday alleged that the Maharashtra government has waived a Rs 21 crore fine for Chhabiya Vihaang Garden, two 13-storey buildings developed by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik’s Vihaang Group.
The decision to waive off the penalty and issuance of an occupation certificate (OC) to the project was approved by the state Cabinet on Wednesday.
Somaiya had filed a complaint with Lokayukta against the ‘illegal’ construction of the project in July last year. In his complaint, Somaiya alleged that the building did not receive an OC as the top five floors were illegal.
He said that the building was constructed in 2008 and in 2012, the Thane Muncipal Corporation declared the floors from 9 to 13 illegal. It levied a penalty of Rs 3.3 crore in October 2013. If the money was not paid within six months, an increase of 18 per cent would be levied. According to Somaiya, the amount is now Rs 21 crore.
“The state government is deceiving citizens that the waiver is of Rs 3.3 crore. With the fines and interest levied on the project, the amount is Rs 21 crore. The question is who will pay this amount. There is no provision for the government to grant this waiver. Is this waiver given because the builder is from Shiv Sena?” Somaiya said.
“Thane Municipal Corporation needs the money as they battling a financial crisis. We will wait to see the details of the decision before deciding the future course of action,” he added.
The BJP had alleged that the urban development department did not mention about waiving the fine amount in the last hearing at Lokayukta. Somaiya stated that even the Supreme Court ordered that fines imposed for regularisation cannot be waived. “It has been done for political gains,” he said.
Sarnaik has constructed a school for the corporation for which he had received construction TDR (transfer of development rights). He used that TDR for construction of the additional floors. He had not applied for permission to Thane Municipal Corporation for the same.
The permission was obtained after the penalty and interest was levied and subsequently the floors were regularised.
