MMRDA fails to recover dues worth Rs. 3,000 cr: RTI activist Anil Galgali

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has failed to recover its own Rs. 3,000 crore dues, alleged Right to Information Act (RTI) activist Anil Galgali.

The list of defaulter consists of who's who ranging from renowned Industrialist Mukesh Ambani to the Income tax dept, Jamunabai Foundation, Indian Newspaper Society, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Naman Hotels, Talim Research Foundation etc, has been revealed through the response of the MMRDA to a RTI query filed by RTI Activist Anil Galgali.

95 percent of the money out of total outstanding is still not recovered from the Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited Company.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Galgali has demanded that, the MMRDA should immediately seize the property of the defaulters and fix the responsibility of the MMRDA Officers who are in connivance with the defaulters and take strict action against such persons and recover its dues.

Meanwhile, Galgali had sought information from the MMRDA administration about details of defaulter dues to be recovered by it.

The MMRDA on September 12, issued notices to its seven largest defaulters and ordered them to immediately pay the amount dues.

The defaulters issued notices include Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd, Jamnalal Hirachand Ambani Foundation belonging to the Ambani's, Income tax dept, Indian Newspaper Society, Naman Hotels, Talim Research Foundation. Mukesh Ambani has taken 3 plots on lease at the BKC.

Out of the three plots, it has sought additional FSI on two plots amounting to Rs 1137.75 crores, which it has not paid.

Simultaneously it was supposed to complete its project within four years, which it has failed to complete, hence being liable to pay an additional surcharge of Rs 1600 crores for the two plots, which has still not been paid.

The Ambani controlled Jamnaben Hirachand Ambani Foundation has not paid Rs 31 crores, Indian Newspaper Society was liable to pay Rs 54.74 crores as additional premium for its failure to complete its project within 4 years, and Rs 50.52 crores for taking additional FSI, which has not been paid as of now.

Naman Hotels outstanding is Rs 32 crores, Talim Research Foundation Rs 33 crores, Income tax dept Rs 1 crore, and Oriental Bank of Commerce Rs 25 crores has not been paid, all the due outstanding crosses a whopping Rs 3000 crores.

The government bodies like, CBI, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Accountant General of India, and Labour Commissioner had immediately paid it's amount for Additional premium on time.

PSU's like Bank of India, IDBI, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Oil Corporation, and ONGC also remitted the dues on time. Private entities like Bharat Diamond bourse, Tata Company, TCG, EIH, Paraini Developers, Jet Airways, Raghuleela Real estate, and Starlite have also paid its additional premium amount on time.

According to Galgali, the officers of the MMRDA administration have surrendered before the high and mighty defaulters thereby failing to recover its dues and further failing to perform their duties.

The MMRDA should stop work at the defaulters projects and for those to whom it has issued its OC, it should revoke the OC's to ensure the recovery of the dues, but sadly the defaulters in connivance of the officers of the MMRDA administration are causing losses to the government treasury.

On the contrary, the MMRDA administration Officers are taking advise from legal experts to ensure cooperation with the defaulters alleged Galgali.