National
Congress locks horns with Fadnavis on land for metro car depot in Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 23 (IANS) A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed allegations of a Rs 18,000 crore landscam in allotting 30 hectares of land in Aarey Milk Colony for a Metro rail car depot, the Mumbai Congress on Wednesday called him “a liar” and produced documentary evidence to support its claims.
“The CM is lying when he says that the Aarey land does not come under the Forest Department. The Mumbai Metro’s map, a court order and a Collector’s note clearly shows that this land is actually forest land,” Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam told media persons.
Rebuffing Fadnavis’ statement on Tuesday that not a single inch would be used for commercial purposes, Nirupam and Aarey Conservation Group activists circulated media advertisements and maps issued by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) showing 30,000 sq. metres reserved for commercial and realty use.
“By calling this a publicity stunt, the CM is calling the fight of hardworking and honest activists a stunt,” Nirupam said.
Activist D. Stalin said the CM is “trying to hide the truth” since documented evidence proved that the Aarey land is forest land and so no work of Metro Rail should be allowed there.
Nirupam and the Aarey activists created a flutter in political circles on Tuesday when they alleged a major Rs 18,000 crore scam in the Maharashtra government’s decision to allot a whopping 30 hectares of prime green land for a car-depot of the upcoming Mumbai Metro III line.
As per plans, the land will be used to build a car depot for 35 rakes of the 33.5 km long Metro III line, within two years, at a cost of around Rs 325 crore, in the green environs of the picturesque Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon east, a northwestern suburb of Mumbai.
The MMRCL has claimed that a little more than 3,000 trees will be affected due to the car depot, though the actual construction of the depot will be on 22 hectares and three acres will be utilised for a station. The rest would remain untouched as a green patch.
Late on Tuesday, the CM’s Office countered by dismissing the allegations as “misleading” and intended to tarnish Fadnavis’ image.
Nirupam said that the MMRCL’s ads in the media contained “blatant lies”, including the claim that all activities undertaken on the Aarey land are legally permissible though the case is pending before the National Green Tribunal’s Pune bench, which has not granted permission for the work.
The activists, including Stalin, Amrita Bhattacharya, Priya Mishra, Biju Augustine and Zoru Bathena, also questioned the MMRCL’s contention that the land belonged to the Dairy Development Department, which has said it is merely the custodian of 300 acres under it, and not the 3,000 acres claimed by the government.
“In all other cities, only 12 hectares are required to construct such a car depot, but here the CM is allotting 30 hectares. The rest of the land will be exploited for commercial uses which at current rates, amounts to a staggering Rs 18,000 crore,” charged Nirupam.
“The real reason why the government is insisting on constructing it at Aarey Milk Colony is that the land here does not fall under Coastal Regulation Zone rules and can be easily exploited for any commercial purposes,” he added.
He accused Fadnavis of “fooling the people of Mumbai” since Aarey Milk Colony is Mumbai’s green lung and the forested land will be lost forever to the builders and land mafia for commercial constructions.
–IANS
qn/vd
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
