Rane denies irregularities in clearances to Lavasa

Police officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh had yesterday alleged that Lavasa, which is developing a hill station in Pune district, got land at a very low rate. Singh had also alleged inaction on Rane's part.

As per the report of senior bureaucrat Ramesh Kumar, there were some irregularities with regard to transfer of land belonging to tribals to Lavasa, Rane said today, adding that "I recommended disciplinary action against the concerned official because he gave the approval at his level instead of forwarding the proposal to the state government".

Based on Kumar's report, Rane said, he also recommended regularising of the discrepancies under Maharashtra Land Revenue Code and Agricultural Land Ceiling Act of 1961.

As to Y P Singh, Rane said," He represents, as a lawyer, those who are against the (Lavasa) project, and the matter is subjudice. He could invite contempt of court action."

Earlier, Rane had a closed-door meeting with state Congress president Manikrao Thakre at the party office.

Thakre later said baseless and politically-motivated allegations were harmful for the democracy.