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Probe ordered into alleged TDR scam on reserved land in Deolali

Probe ordered into alleged TDR scam on reserved land in Deolali

Time of India3 days ago

Nashik: On Thursday, Ram Shinde, the chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, directed the civic and district administration to investigate an alleged Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scam related to the acquisition of land reserved for public amenities in the Deolali area of Nashik city.
He instructed them to submit a report within 15 days.
The directive emerged during a meeting with the relevant officials following a complaint that the Nashik Municipal Corporation issued TDR certificates to a landowner at rates exceeding the govt market value in exchange for land in Survey No. 295 at Deolali within the NMC limits, designated for a garden, school, and the 18m DP Road. The meeting took place at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on Thursday.
Ram Shinde, the state legislative council chairman, said the complaint indicates NMC issued TDR certificates to the landowner concerned at a rate of Rs 25,100 per sqmt, while govt market value of the reserved land at Deolali was Rs 6,500 per sqmt. At first glance, this appears to have resulted in losses to state govt. Shinde asked the NMC commissioner, inspector-general of Registration and Controller of Stamps, and district collector to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged TDR scam and submit the report within 15 days.
Shinde also instructed that if the inquiry establishes the facts, criminal cases should be filed immediately against those found guilty during the probe. The officials attended the meeting via video conference.

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