Nagpur: NIT clears decks for giving land to socy run by min’s wife

NAGPUR: The Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) board of trustees on Thursday approved the decision taken by chairman Manoj Kumar Suryawanshi to allot a plot of land to People’s Progressive Education Society, which is led by Sumedha, wife of guardian minister Nitin Raut, without inviting applications from interested organizations. Now, Suryawanshi will submit the proposal to the state government seeking relaxation in NIT Act, to allot the land to the society without conducting due process.
It is mandatory for NIT to invite applications to allot any land, flat or tenement etc as per Land Disposal Rules-2016. Considering the application by Sumedha, NIT chairman tabled proposal before board of trustees meeting on March 30.
Two of four trustees — MLA Vikas Thakre and Sena leader Sandeep Itkelwar, both appointed by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to NIT board — had authorized chairman to take a decision. Two remaining trustees were Suryawanshi and Supriya Thul from state’s town planning department.
TOI had on Thursday reported that the chairman approved the proposal, citing the board approved it in the meeting on March 30.
In the meeting on Thursday, minutes of the meeting of March 30 were tabled before the board.
NIT sources told TOI, “Suryawanshi asked whether any trustee has to say anything on minutes of meeting held on March 30. All were silent, which cleared the minutes of last meeting including allotment of land to society without inviting applications. Thakre and Itkelwar were present in the meeting and did not say anything. Before commencement of the meeting, Thakre and Itkelwar had met Suryawanshi.”
Thakre and Itkelwar said they gave power to chairman to take a decision in the last meeting itself, so they had no comment on the minutes.
Suryawanshi did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
BSP leader Jitendra Ghodeskwar told TOI, “It should become a precedent in NIT, to directly allot plots, tenements and flats on receiving applications. NIT should not follow processes like inviting applications and holding draws. Rule should be same for all. We have requested NIT to give land for development of Shahu Maharaj Memorial and the application is pending for last many months.”
BJP leader Dharampal Meshram said, “This particular land was acquired by NIT by issuing transferable development rights (TDR) for construction of road, garden and school. Unfortunately, land is being gifted to minister’s family on the the minister’s directives. We will challenge the decision in court. The same was done earlier by Congress ministers and leaders like Satish Chaturvedi, Govindra Wanjari, Rajendra Mulak etc. These leaders are misusing powers and taking over sprawling lands owned by the government.”