Latest news with #UdaySamant
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
RERA has authority to take action against developers: Maharashtra minister
MUMBAI : The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has the power to take action against developers for violations, Maharashtra minister Uday Samant said in the assembly on Thursday. Registration under RERA is mandatory for all developers, he said while responding to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Gajanan Lavate. Complaints had been received regarding building permissions within the limits of Akot Municipal Council and a hearing on the matter was held on December 7, 2022 in the office of the Akola District Collector, the minister said. The applicant had submitted a request for construction permission on March 31, 2021, attaching supporting documents related to land demarcation (gunthewari) from 2007-08. However, original land records were reportedly destroyed in a 2018 fire. Based on available evidence, the then-authorities granted offline construction permission on April 18, 2022, as the BPMS (Building Permission Management System) was not fully operational at the time. The approval was later updated online, and applicable fees were paid, the assembly was told. "However, since the builder has not registered the project under RERA, action under the RERA Act will be recommended. A formal communication will be sent to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority in this regard," Samant said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt stays contract for 12cr aspirational toilets, orders probe
Mumbai: The state govt on Thursday ordered a stay on the Rs 12 crore aspirational toilets construction contract. Industries Minister Uday Samant said an inquiry will be conducted and a report will be submitted in 30 days, but till then, work on the toilets will be stayed. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar ruled that the state govt must direct municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to conduct a probe against additional municipal commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi, who is pushing the aspirational toilet project and take action against her if any irregularities are found in the probe. The BMC has claimed that three tenders were floated for 13 toilets worth around Rs 21 crore. Each toilet costs around Rs 1.65 crore. However, 3 aspirational toilets were on open spaces so they were dropped. One toilet was in Dharavi which was dropped since the area is now part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. For the toilet near Sion Fort, BMC couldn't get permission from the Archaeological Survey of India and it was dropped. The toilet at VB Worlikar Marg in Worli was cancelled after orders from municipal commissioner. At the moment, work is going on for seven toilets only that cost around Rs 12 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Virginia: Gov Will Cover Cost To Install Solar For Eligible Homeowners In These Zips Energy Bill Cruncher Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly by BJP MLA Ameet Satam through a calling attention motion. Satam said that the BMC has approved tenders for 14 'Aspirational Toilets' worth Rs 20 crore, and work has already commenced at five locations in A Ward. "Despite the BMC's own Pedestrian First policy and the fact that these areas are surrounded by heritage buildings and precincts, these structures are not just toilets but effectively amount to BMC-sponsored encroachments on public footpaths. The local elected representative had opposed the construction of these toilets on footpaths. Was this opposition taken into account by the BMC?"asked Satam. Aspirational toilets have a European-style design with smart features like automatic flushing, sensor-based lighting and ventilation, and even voice assistance.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
DCP-rank officer to probe sale of BMC land by sr civic official ‘squatting on post'
Mumbai: Amid charges that a BMC officer was involved in a purported sale this year of 10 Borivli plots owned by and in possession of the civic body and that she is reluctant to give up the post of assistant municipal commissioner despite being promoted as deputy municipal commissioner (DMC), industries minister Uday Samant said in the legislative council on Tuesday that a DCP-rank officer will probe the alleged land scam and the civic official will be directed to take her new charge immediately. The issue was raised by Congress's Bhai Jagtap through a calling attention motion. He pointed out that Saibaba Nagar layout in Borivli, spanning 4.7 acres, was developed in the late 1970s. The layout has 18 plots, of which 10 were handed over to BMC. In Development Plan-2034, these 10 plots were shown as being reserved for a higher education institute, a municipal school, a dispensary and a playground. On the remaining eight plots, there are 16 residential buildings that went in for redevelopment, which was stayed by the civic official, said Jagtap. "In 2021, when I raised the issue with the then municipal commissioner, Iqbal Chahal, and pointed out that even after 40 years, the property registration card (PRC) of these 10 plots did not bear the name of BMC, he directed the then assistant municipal commissioner to ensure that the process was completed within seven days and that the PRC reflected the name of BMC as the owner," said the Congress MLC. "However, early this year, all 10 plots were sold in connivance with the ward officer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Serbia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House Search Now Undo She was promoted as DMC, but has refused to take charge and continues in the post. She must be sent on leave immediately," he demanded. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Samant said the entire matter was being investigated by a sub-inspector, but the probe will now be helmed by a DCP. "The Mumbai police commissioner will be given instructions to this effect [on Tuesday] itself," he said. On the redevelopment being stayed, he said there were other legal issues as well, which were being sorted out with the relevant authorities.
Scroll.in
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Maharashtra orders probe into NGO over report highlighting poor state of Mumbai's public toilets
Shiv Sena MLA and Maharashtra Cabinet minister Uday Samant on Monday said the state government will investigate the 'motives' of the non-profit organisation Praja Foundation, which released a report in May highlighting the poor conditions of public and community toilets in Mumbai, The Indian Express reported. In its report, Praja Foundation had said that there is only one public toilet seat for every 752 men and 1,820 women residents of Mumbai. This is much below the guidelines under the Swachh Bharat Mission, which recommends that there should be at least one public toilet seat for every 100 to 400 men and 100 to 200 women. Based on data received through Right to Information applications, the non-profit also highlighted that there is only one community toilet seat for every 86 men and 81 women. A community toilet is a shared facility meant for a defined group of residents or an entire settlement. The Swachh Bharat Mission norms prescribe one toilet for 35 men and 25 women, respectively. On Monday, Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Surve, Bharatiya Janata Party's Raj Todsam and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar raised questions in the Maharashtra Assembly based on the Praja Foundation's report. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that Mumbai has one toilet seat for every 46 men and 38 women. Milind Mhaske, the chief executive officer of Praja Foundation, told Scroll on Tuesday that the organisation was yet to receive a formal request or communication from the government regarding the data mentioned during the Assembly session. 'Praja remains committed to collaborate with the government to improve quality of life across our cities,' added Mhaske. Samant had claimed on Monday that the Praja Foundation's report was 'not accurate'. 'This NGO has brought out a report on availability of toilets in Mumbai,' the minister was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. 'The data given in the report is not accurate. In such cases, it leads to the defamation of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.'
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mithi scam: Lens on top officials & netas, says min
Mumbai: The roles of higher authorities, including commissioner-level officials and standing committee chairman and members, are being probed by the special investigation team (SIT) in the Rs 65-crore Mithi river desilting scam case, said minister Uday Samant in the legislative council on Thursday. Samant said there was suspected involvement of a few who may have held the "remote control", adding that nobody will be spared, irrespective of their political affiliations. "Who is behind [key accused] Ketan Kadam should be probed... Whoever is involved from abroad, their properties should be sealed. The probe needs to be in-depth," demanded MLC Prasad Lad. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai MLC Pravin Darekar said instead of just catching contractors and civic officials, the SIT should also probe the role of officials of the rank of additional commissioner. There could be involvement of somebody at the top who approves proposals, he said. MLC Bhai Jagtap and Lad sought that since this was an organised crime, stringent sections of MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) be invoked in the case. Samant said he will propose action under stringent sections but leave it to CM Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the home portfolio, to take a call on this demand. Samant said Kadam reportedly had stakes in a nightclub and a hotel chain. "It is being ascertained if the scam money was diverted to the hotel business." The minister said the police team is probing how the scam unfolded over the last four years and a detailed investigation is yet to be carried out into desilting works undertaken from 2006-21. Large-scale cleanup of Mithi began after the July 2005 deluge that claimed over 1,000 lives. "Since 2005, around Rs 2,000 crore has been spent on the river's maintenance, including silt removal and other tasks," said MLC Rajhans Singh in his calling attention motion. Despite this expenditure, the river's water flow and channel remain obstructed, revealing significant financial corruption involving municipal officials and contractors, he said.
