Law followed in clearing parking lot proposals: Govt tells HC

Refuting allegations of corruption in allotment of public parking lots by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, the Maharashtra government today said due process of law was followed while approving the proposals.
The state government's Urban Development Department (UDD) today filed an affidavit in the Bombay High court in reply to a PIL alleging connivance between Chavan and Minister of State for UDD, Bhaskar Jadhav, in charging exorbitant amounts for sanctioning proposals for allotment of public parking lots.
"The petition is misconceived and does not disclose any cause of action against the government or the chief minister. Approval of proposals for parking lots is done as per the provisions of law and after following due procedure," stated the affidavit filed by UDD joint secretary Rajan Kop.

The affidavit further said a committee, headed by the municipal commissioner, and comprising joint commissioner of police (Traffic), MMRDA commissioner and other members of the civic body has been set up for considering suitability of public parking lots.
"The committee has been empowered to scrutinise proposals submitted by private land owners or developers to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). The committee shall then make recommendations to the state government," the affidavit stated.
According to the affidavit, from October 2010 to March 2013, the civic body has submitted 21 proposals to the government.

"Out of this, eight have been approved. In six proposals, some compliance is awaited and the remaining seven are being scrutinised and the final decision will be communicated to the corporation," it said.

The affidavit also refuted claims made by Wategaonkar that the government cleared three proposals for parking lots on June 20 last year, a day before the Mantralaya was gutted and said the proposals were cleared over a week before the fire incident.
The petition is likely to come up for hearing on June 20.