Mumbai: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled on Friday in the Maharashtra assembly observed that educational societies in the state had not used over two lakh km of land allotted to them. The utilisation period in all these cases stipulated by the collector had expired, the report stated.
“Scrutiny of records in four districts revealed that in 15 cases, the land admeasuring 2,13,023 sq. meters was allotted to the education societies. These societies had not utilised the land till June 2016,” the report stated. The CAG has tested 114 cases of land allotment for educational purpose in five districts.
It further stated that another 4,000 sqm land in Nashik district was allotted for education purposes in October 1933. The land was allotted on occupancy basis. As per the report submitted by the talathi, the land was found barren and no construction was found on the land. The piece of land should be resumed to the government, the CAG report stated.
The audit also found that “in eight cases in four collectorates (Kolhapur, Raigad, Solapur and Thane), land was allotted to various educational societies between May 2007 and July 2011. The land was allotted on occupancy basis and lease basis. This should have been registered as per article 24 and 36 respectively of the Maharashtra Stamp Act 1958.
However, though the possession was given, audit noticed that no lease agreement was executed between the concerned parties. The allotment of government land on lease without agreement was not in consonance with the provisions of the Act. It also resulted in non-realisation of revenue of Rs 14.76 lakh in the shape of stamp duty and registration fee. Though the lease period were neither renewed not was the land resumed to the government.”
The report noticed that in 42 cases in four districts, the lease period of land allotted for playground to educational institutes had expired between June 1966 and August 2016. The lease of the lands was required to be renewed or the land was required to be resumed to the government. The lessees nether applied for renewals not did the department take any action for resumption of the land, it added.
