NASHIK: On Thursday, Ram Shinde, chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, ordered the civic and district administration to investigate a purported Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scam concerning land acquisition for public amenities in Deolali, Nashik. He requested a report be submitted within 15 days.
The directive followed a meeting with relevant officials after a complaint surfaced that the Nashik Municipal Corporation granted TDR certificates to a landowner at rates surpassing the government’s market value in return for land at Survey No. 295 in Deolali, which is earmarked for a garden, school, and an 18m DP Road. This meeting occurred at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on Thursday.
Ram Shinde stated that the complaint suggests the NMC issued TDR certificates to the landowner at a rate of ₹25,100 per sqmt, while the government’s market value for the reserved land was only ₹6,500 per sqmt. This discrepancy appears to have caused financial losses to the state government. Shinde has instructed the NMC commissioner, inspector-general of Registration and Controller of Stamps, and the district collector to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this alleged TDR scam and to provide a report within 15 days.
Additionally, Shinde emphasized that if the inquiry confirms the allegations, immediate criminal charges should be filed against those found culpable. The officials participated in the meeting through video conference.
