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Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Shelar & Cong MP get into spat over Dharavi master plan
Mumbai: With Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad raising questions daily on the master plan approved by CM Devendra Fadnavis, BJP's Ashish Shelar, in reply, called Gaikwad for an "open discussion" on the Dharavi redevelopment project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He denied special benefits were given to the , lead developer for the project. In a social media post, Gaikwad said she was ready for discussion and asked him to "inform the time and place" but set one condition — "that it happen in presence of Dharavikars." Gaikwad asked how the master plan was being touted as implementation of the 2016 Dharavi Development Plan when the master plan was based on FSI and TDR policies decided in 2024. She accused govt of violating MRTP Act as the master plan was accepted by govt without inviting objections or suggestions. Shelar, in a post on social media, said there is a difference between master plan and development plan. "The master plan specifies how much land is needed for rehabilitation, where it will take place, and what physical and social infrastructure is required for redevelopment of Dharavi, along with the necessary land. When the development plan is presented by DRPA, suggestions and objections will be invited from citizens as per MRTP Act," he said.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Special court closes Powai land case against Niranjan Hiranandani, others
MUMBAI : A special court Monday closed criminal proceedings against developer Niranjan Hiranandani and others in the alleged Rs 30,000 crore Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS) land scam case. The judge observed that prosecuting the accused would not be in keeping with justice and that there was no prima facie case after the state Anti-Corruption Bureau submitted a closure report saying there was no evidence of corruption, monetary gratification, dishonest intention, or criminal conspiracy. The case relates to allegations that prime public land leased at concessional rates for affordable housing was diverted to construct luxury real estate and commercial premises by private developers, notably Niranjan Hiranandani, managing director of the Hiranandani group . "Having perused the closure report, I find that no material or anything incriminating, which could connect the accused…with the alleged crime has been found…in my opinion it would thus, be futile to unnecessarily prosecute the accused.., sans any material against them," special judge Shashikant Eknathrao Bangar said in a 119-page order made available on Tuesday. The judge said the closure reports are based on cogent investigation, verified compliance, and supported by judicial orders of the Bombay high court. Pointing to the HC's orders in three related PILs alleging breach of agreement with govt and misuse of FSI and development rights, the judge said allegations concerning breach of affordable housing obligations, amalgamation of flats, and sale of flats were conclusively examined and remedied. The judge noted that the high court had constituted a three-member joint committee to verify compliance and accepted reports in 2016 and 2017, which confirmed that out of 2,200 flats of 80 sqm, 1,337 were constructed, 12 locked, and 887 remained to be completed as per the plan and timeline. "The directions for completion of the remaining flats were passed with monitoring provisions. Any further breach or non-compliance was made subject to the court's ongoing supervision, obviating the need for separate criminal proceedings…the ACB rightly concluded that no prosecutable offence remained. There was no material to show abuse of public office or conspiracy," the judge said, adding that the probe was a 'fair' one. The ACB, through public prosecutor Ramesh Siroya, submitted before the court that sale of larger flats and amalgamation, though deviating from the spirit of the Agreement, was retrospectively regularised through the high court hearing the PILs. The agreement dated 19 Nov 1986, was executed between the state, MMRDA, and the developer for an area of 232 acres. Based on activist Santosh Daundkar's plea alleging that Hiranandani and others were involved in irregularities in the housing project, a court in 2012 ordered a probe. The ACB filed an FIR against Hiranandani and senior urban development department officer Thomas Benjamin and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC. In 2013, the ACB sought to close the case on the grounds that there wasn't sufficient evidence. Daundkar opposed the move. The ACB's closure report, which was rejected by the court on Jan 4 2018, led to a directive for further investigations. Following this, a second closure report was submitted on Aug 30, 2019. Daundkar challenged this report too and sought a reinvestigation. He alleged malafide transfer of the investigating officer, who was purportedly preparing to file a chargesheet against top officials and the builder. Daundkar argued that the final report was a result of administrative interference and suppression of crucial material. He contended that the final report is based heavily on the HC's civil PIL orders and ignores criminal aspects. He sought a fresh probe by an independent agency. The ACB said the allegations were not supported by documentary evidence or witness statements. "There are around 8,000 residents (approx) residing in PADS. None of the residents have filed any criminal complaints over the years pertaining to the development carried out in PADS," it submitted. It also pointed out that Daundkar had neither purchased any commercial premises nor was a resident or investor in the development. The judge rejected Daundkar's plea against the closure report, saying it reiterated allegations already considered in PILs and brought no new substantive material.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Spl court closes Powai land case against Hiranandani
Mumbai: A special court Monday closed criminal proceedings against developer Niranjan Hiranandani and others in the alleged Rs 30,000 crore Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS) land scam case. The judge observed that prosecuting the accused would not be in keeping with justice and that there was no prima facie case after the state Anti-Corruption Bureau submitted a closure report saying there was no evidence of corruption, monetary gratification, dishonest intention, or criminal conspiracy. The case relates to allegations that prime public land leased at concessional rates for affordable housing was diverted to construct luxury real estate and commercial premises by private developers, notably Niranjan Hiranandani, managing director of the Hiranandani group. "Having perused the closure report, I find that no material or anything incriminating, which could connect the accused…with the alleged crime has been found…in my opinion it would thus, be futile to unnecessarily prosecute the accused.., sans any material against them," special judge Shashikant Eknathrao Bangar said in a 119-page order made available on Tuesday. The judge said the closure reports are based on cogent investigation, verified compliance, and supported by judicial orders of the Bombay high court. Pointing to the HC's orders in three related PILs alleging breach of agreement with govt and misuse of FSI and development rights, the judge said allegations concerning breach of affordable housing obligations, amalgamation of flats, and sale of flats were conclusively examined and remedied. The judge noted that the high court had constituted a three-member joint committee to verify compliance and accepted reports in 2016 and 2017, which confirmed that out of 2,200 flats of 80 sqm, 1,337 were constructed, 12 locked, and 887 remained to be completed as per the plan and timeline. "The directions for completion of the remaining flats were passed with monitoring provisions. Any further breach or non-compliance was made subject to the court's ongoing supervision, obviating the need for separate criminal proceedings…the ACB rightly concluded that no prosecutable offence remained. There was no material to show abuse of public office or conspiracy," the judge said, adding that the probe was a 'fair' one. The ACB, through public prosecutor Ramesh Siroya, submitted before the court that sale of larger flats and amalgamation, though deviating from the spirit of the Agreement, was retrospectively regularised through the high court hearing the PILs. The agreement dated 19 Nov 1986, was executed between the state, MMRDA, and the developer for an area of 232 acres. Based on activist Santosh Daundkar's plea alleging that Hiranandani and others were involved in irregularities in the housing project, a court in 2012 ordered a probe. The ACB filed an FIR against Hiranandani and senior urban development department officer Thomas Benjamin and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC. In 2013, the ACB sought to close the case on the grounds that there wasn't sufficient evidence. Daundkar opposed the move. The ACB's closure report, which was rejected by the court on Jan 4 2018, led to a directive for further investigations. Following this, a second closure report was submitted on Aug 30, 2019. Daundkar challenged this report too and sought a reinvestigation. He alleged malafide transfer of the investigating officer, who was purportedly preparing to file a chargesheet against top officials and the builder. Daundkar argued that the final report was a result of administrative interference and suppression of crucial material. He contended that the final report is based heavily on the HC's civil PIL orders and ignores criminal aspects. He sought a fresh probe by an independent agency. The ACB said the allegations were not supported by documentary evidence or witness statements. "There are around 8,000 residents (approx) residing in PADS. None of the residents have filed any criminal complaints over the years pertaining to the development carried out in PADS," it submitted. It also pointed out that Daundkar had neither purchased any commercial premises nor was a resident or investor in the development. The judge rejected Daundkar's plea against the closure report, saying it reiterated allegations already considered in PILs and brought no new substantive material.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Ghost gear poses threat to marine life on Andhra Pradesh coast
Visakhapatnam: Over the past three years (Oct 2021 to Aug 2024), survey vessels MFV Matsya Shikari and MVF Matsya Darshini of the Fishery Survey of India (FSI), during bottom trawl operations, retrieved 5,562 kgs of ghost gear, plastic litter comprising gill nets, trawl net, nylon ropes, plastic bottles, plastic containers, plastic covers, and other plastic materials between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. Ghost fishing gear not only poses a threat to marine creatures but also to underwater ecology. FSI Visakhapatnam has identified 15 hotspots of ghost gear across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. Of the 15 hotspots, 10 are on AP coast while five on Odisha coast. FSI vessels retrieved 2,000 kgs of ghost gear off Paradip (Odisha), 1,202 kg off Bheemunipatnam (AP), 920 kgs off Pudimadaka (AP), and 320 kgs each off Chintapalli and Kalingapatnam coasts in AP from the 15 hotspots. Ghost nets are lost, abandoned or discarded fishing nets in the oceans that drift underwater, and strangle and kill fish, coral reefs, turtles and other organisms. The problem of ghost fishing nets is prevalent in marine areas along AP and Odisha coasts. Due to the presence of rocky habitat, the nets get entangled at the rocky bottom. As it is difficult to retrieve the nets, fishermen discard them in the sea which stay there forever. C Dhananjaya Rao, mechanical marine engineer with FSI-Visakhapatnam, said ghost nets, besides killing marine animals due to trapping, also disturb the ecosystem and can cause damage to boats as a result of getting entangled in the propeller. We have been conducting awareness meetings among fishermen to address the concern of ghost nets and their impact on marine life in the coastal districts. Ghost gear and marine plastic litter were segregated and handed over to local civic bodies for proper disposal. Fishermen have been asked to hand over torn nets and marine plastic to collection centres of civic bodies so that local agencies can recycle the discarded fishing nets," Rao said. According to GVA Prasad, scientist at FSI-Visakhapatnam, it is important to educate the fishing community about the negative impact of ghost nets on marine environment. "They need to be encouraged to recover ghost nets for proper disposal. Public awareness through communication can be a powerful tool to tackle the ghost nets menace," he opined. Polythene or nylon fishnets usually wear out every 8-10 months. "If stuck in a rock while fishing, we pull the net out, but it tears, and the torn bit goes underwater, choking Olive Ridley turtles and fish. Not every fisherman is aware of the dangers of host nets. However, some of them collect and hand over the ghost nets at collection centres for such items," said Surada Satyanarayana, general secretary of Visakha Dolphin Boat Operators Welfare Association.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gujarat government's new policy to enable cross-city transferable development rights
AHMEDABAD : The state govt is putting together a new redevelopment and Transferable Development Rights (TDR) policy that will, for the first time, create a regional development rights market in Gujarat . The policy framework proposes an inter-city TDR framework, allowing cross-city transfer of development rights in Ahmedabad, Surat , Vadodara , Rajkot and other urban centres while addressing various urban challenges. Currently, TDR certificates allow developers to build over and above the permissible floor space index (FSI) under prevalent rules by purchasing unused development rights from other properties or vacant land. "Usually, TDR systems operate within individual municipal boundaries. The new policy's inter-city framework means that a developer in Ahmedabad could potentially use TDR certificates generated from land in Surat. This creates a regional development rights market for the first time," said the UDD official. A senior official from the urban development and urban housing department (UDD) revealed that landlocked properties that cannot be developed due to access or regulatory constraints will be taken up, adding that the new redevelopment and TDR policy will open the floor for solutions to urban challenges like housing through slum redevelopment, repurposing closed factories for modern use, optimizing utility of transport hubs, and converting idle govt land into productive use. City-specific committees will streamlineand fast-track approvals and also oversee the policy's execution . "The policy reduces govt's financial burden by incentivizingdevelopers to undertake redevelopment projects. We will use data analytics to identify optimal redevelopment opportunities," the official added. "The policy will provide TDR rules specific to each redevelopment type," the senior UDD official said. He added, "The policy will define eligible areas, establish valuation methods, and lay down the issuance and usage guidelines. A robust monitoring mechanism will ensure transparency and measurable progress." Officials added that the policy will also consist of special implementation guides — similar to those used in Maharashtra — to aid both civic bodies and developers. TDR has been used in Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, to preserve heritage buildings by compensating owners who are restricted from redeveloping or modifying their properties. These owners receive TDR, which they can sell to developers, thus monetizing their development rights without altering the heritage site.
