NIT chairman okays land to socy of min’s wife sans consent of trustees

Nagpur: Chairman Manoj Kumar Suryawanshi of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has allegedly approved allotment of a sprawling land to People’s Progressive Education Society, whose secretary is Sumedha, wife of guardian minister Nitin Raut. The approval came without inviting applications for the allotment, and lacks consent of two trustees — Vikas Thakre and Sandeep Itkelwar. The NIT board of trustees will take a decision on the minutes in a meeting on Thursday.
If the minutes are approved, NIT will submit its decision to the state government seeking relaxation in NIT Land Disposal Rules-2016, so that the land can be allotted to the society directly without inviting applications.
Raut and Suryawanshi did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
TOI had reported on March 30 that NIT administration tabled a proposal to allot 23,664.79 sq ft (2,199.33 sq m) land at mouza Nari in North Nagpur to the society on an application dated October 11 from Sumedha. On March 31, TOI highlighted Raut wrote a letter on October 18 to the chairman recommending allotment of land to the society. The land was acquired by NIT by giving transferable development rights (TDR) under Green Belt Control Scheme. The land is reserved for primary and secondary school, and falls in the assembly constituency of Raut.
Thakre, also MLA, told TOI, “Proposal came up for discussion in the meeting on March 30. I authorised the chairman to take a decision. I did not give my consent.”
Itkelwar also did not approve, but authorized the chairman. “Our exact decision should have been noted in the minutes. Instead, it says board approved the proposal, which is totally wrong. Four trustees were present. Apart from me and Thakre, chairman and Supriya Thul from state’s town planning department were present,” he said.
Itkelwar alleged it is illegal for a public representative to ask for land for a society run by family members. “Therefore, we did not give our consent.”
Thakre and Itkelwar have been appointed trustee by MVA government, in which Raut is energy minister.
As per affidavit submitted by Raut during 2019 assembly elections, Raut and his wife have equal investment of Rs5.75 lakh each in the society for which the land has been demanded.
BJP city president Pravin Datke said they will begin agitation and approach court if the minutes are approved. “NIT should allot the land to educational society working for poor people. Also, NIT should not allot land without giving equal chance to other institutions by inviting applications. The past is being repeated by ministers here. Earlier, some ministers had grabbed public lands in the name of education, medical service etc.”
Activist Jwala Dhote said it is clear Raut is misusing powers of minister. “Thakre and Itkelwar are good politicians and should resign tomorrow if chairman approves proposal without their consent. Public will teach lesson to Raut and government should suspend Suryawanshi immediately. NIT allots tenement to poor people by inviting applications and recovering money. When it comes to minister, no procedure is being followed. It is very shocking that minister recommended land for society run by his wife, having his own investment, and also situated in his constituency,” she said.
BOX
IAN
* No provision in NIT to allot land without inviting applications
* NIT acquired land by giving TDR for road, garden, primary and secondary school
* Sumedha Raut submitted application seeking land for society on October 11
* Nitin Raut wrote on his ministry letter head to chairman within a week, recommending allotment
* Proposal kept pending and tabled in meeting on March 30 after end of tenure of BJP-appointed trustees
* Two of four trustees in meeting did not give consent, but authorized chairman to take a decision
* Minutes say board approved proposal
* Raut and wife have equal investment in society
* Land is situated in Raut’s constituency