102 centres with leased land to face action once poll code lifts

Pune: The administration was expected to crack down on 102 educational, charitable and other institutions in the district for alleged violation of conditions under which govt land was granted to them on lease or occupancy terms.Action was likely once the model code of conduct was lifted in the state after results of Lok Sabha election results were declared on June 4.The revenue department’s move came close on the heels of chief minister Eknath Shinde ordering a probe into the reported encroachment of govt land in Mahabaleshwar by a private party, official sources told TOI.They said the state had allotted land spread on 1,000ha on lease or occupancy basis over the last three decades to as many as 1,480 institutions across Pune district. Repeated checks and comprehensive surveys based on state directives had exposed serious violations. A senior official from the Pune district administration told TOI on Saturday, “We have completed the process of withdrawing leased land from 16 defaulting institutions and will do the same for the remaining 86. Notices have been issued to all 102 bodies found violating norms and action will be initiated after the model code of conduct is lifted in the state. Our revenue machinery had been busy with elections.”Maximum notices were issued to institutions in Haveli taluka (25), followed by Pune city (14), Mulshi (11), Maval (10) as well as Indapur and Shirur (nine each).Officials said common violations pertain to non-renewal of lease period, not utilising the land for the purpose specified, failure to initiate construction within the stipulated two-year time frame and unauthorised subletting without intimating authorities. “In cases where institutions expressed a willingness to follow the norms, the lease period has been extended and withdrawn in cases of gross violations,” an official said. Incidentally, the comptroller and auditor general had previously cited several cases of violation and misuse of govt land parcels meant for public institutions in its audits, stating it caused loss to the exchequer.Activists said many big clubs operating on leased lands hardly renewed licences and the govt had continued to allow them to operate.Home to a large number of educational, social and religious institutions, Pune topped the state in terms of govt land allotments over many decades. Apart from leased plots, a check on properties granted at concessional rates should also be carried out, said citizen activist S Joshi.

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