VHP to get 2-acre plot in Mumbai's Sion at Rs 848 monthly rent

MUMBAI: Maharashtra urban development department led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde has approved allotment of an approximate 2-acre vacant BMC plot in Sion in Mumbai to Vishwa Hindu Parishad on lease for a period of 30 years. The civic body will charge a one-time premium of Rs 9.7 crore and Rs 10,186 per year as concessional rent thereafter. The plot will be used for medical and educational purposes. Condemning the move, city Congress chief MP Varsha Gaiwkad said the arbitrary allotment of land to organisations close to BJP, weeks before BMC elections, was wrong.“The plot located in F/ North ward measuring 7,658.33 sq m in area, has been converted into leasehold land and given to VHP on lease for a period of 30 years under Section 92 (DD) of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. The deputy commissioner, (improvement), BMC submitted a proposal for approval of the state govt. The matter...was under consideration of the state govt,” said a govt resolution (GR).“First, slum land was given to govt’s favourite builders, now vacant land is being given to their favourite organisations. On the one hand, BMC is auctioning plots to raise money as it is on the brink of bankruptcy, and on the other, they are allotting prime plots to their favourite organisations. This kind of allotment just before BMC polls is illegal and unethical. Health and education are BMC’s mandatory functions, they must build and run hospitals on their own. VHP has no experience in healthcare or hospital operations. On what grounds is this gift worth crores being given?” said Gaikwad, adding it was shocking Shinde approved the allotment ‘under instructions’ of BJP.“A rent of Rs 10,186 per year will be charged from 25th June, 2025 at a concessional rate of Rs 10,186 per annum for next 30 years. State govt is approving levy of Rs 9,72,56,500 as a onetime premium for allocation of land under the powers vested in state govt...,” said the GR.In Oct last year, state cabinet had cleared handing over of a 6,320 sqm plot in Wadala costing around Rs 74 crore to Veer Savarkar Charitable Trust for educational purposes. The proposal was sanctioned just a month after Sion-Koliwada BJP MLA, Captain Tamil Selvan, made an application seeking the allotment. On Selvan’s request, state govt had also cleared the change of reservation of the land from residential to educational.