Prakash Mehta indicts former SRA chief in scam

Mumbai: The state housing minister, Mr Prakash Mehta filed his written statement before the Lokayukta on Monday evening, in which he allegedly passed the buck to the then Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) chief Vishwas Patil, in the controversy related to the MP mill compound SRA project at Tardeo, said sources.
 
In his statement, Mr Mehta claimed that he had given directions to the SRA chief  ‘to act as per the provisions of law’ and that he never asked him to act illegally, sources said. The minister has refuted all allegations levelled against him and told the Lokayukta that he had not discussed the matter with CM Devendra Fadnavis, as per a remark in the file related to the issue.

There are allegations against Mr Mehta for sanctioning an SRA proposal, which allows extra building rights granted to slumdwellers at the MP Mill compound to be transferred to a scheme for project-affected people (PAPs). The housing department had pointed out in June 2017 that there is no provision in the DC rules that allows benefits granted to eligible slum dwellers to be withdrawn or transferred.

However, Mr Mehta sanctioned the proposal on 21 June last year by saying, “The proposal should take general body resolution (GBR) of society. The government will get PAPs. The chief minister has been informed.” CM Fadnavis has granted the stay the after political uproar in the state legislature.