Shiv Sena leader and Minister of State for Housing, Ravindra Waikar, who is facing allegations of illegal constructions and land grab, today said permission for construction are given by the Urban Development Department being helmed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Waikar is facing charges of usurping a government land in Aarey Milk Colony here and making illegal constructions in a state-run gymnasium there. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has also accused him of misusing his position to clear a slum redevelopment project for a firm he himself was allegedly a partner in.
"The Urban Development Department that grants permission for constructions is headed by the Chief Minister. Therefore, if he wishes, he can conduct an inquiry into the case," Waikar told reporters at Mantralaya here today.
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Commenting on the objections raised over alleged additional illegal floor constructed on the gymnasium at Aarey Colony, he said the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) can rectify the anomalies.
He claimed that he was being targeted because he was a close confidant of 'Matoshri' (Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's residence) and was hardworking.
"My concern is that because of me, the party's image should not get damaged. I will consider filing a case against Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) president Sanjay Nirupam for levelling baseless allegations against me," he said.
The minister refuted the charge that he had taken over 20 acre Aarey Milk Colony land for the construction of the gymnasium.
"During my first term as an MLA in 2009, the regular walkers in the Aarey Colony had been demanding a gymnasium and a club. The gym has had all the necessary approvals of the Mumbai Suburban District Collector and was done using my MLA Fund," he said.
He said that after the construction of the gymnasium
in 2013, the Aarey Milk Colony authorities stayed any further construction.
Commenting on the allegations that the gymnasium has 40 rooms, Waikar demanded that Nirupam should show or else step down as MRCC president.
Nirupam had recently filed a complaint against Waikar with Lokayukta in this connection.
Referring to the allegations of his family members being included in the Trust set up to manage the gymnasium, he said that the Shivaee Trust was set up in 1994 to manage various activities like maintenance of the gardens, security of the gardens and tourist facilities inside Aarey Lake, and other facilities that he developed in his Jogeshwari East assembly constituency.
Nirupam had also alleged that the minister misused his position to secure a slum redevelopment project contract for a firm in which he is a partner.
Responding to the allegations of his involvement in the construction activity by Aishwarya Constructions around Jogeshwari Caves (a protected monument), he said, "I had resigned from the company in 2011 itself."
On the construction activity near the protected Jogeshwari caves, he said that the court order prevents construction activity within 100 meters of the periphery of the site.
According to him, there are many settlements there which have been in existence from 1950. "Where would these slum dwellers go now (if the redevelopment project is not done)?," he asked.
When asked about the mention of the dues accruing from the former company in his 2014 assembly election affidavit, Waikar said that since the dues from the company were to be received by him, he had to show the same in his election affidavit.
