Congress MLAs on Friday made allegations against senior BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha and his real estate company Lodha Group regarding violations of development control (DC) rules. Mr Lodha has refuted the allegations calling them politically motivated.
Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap and MLAs Amin Patel, Annie Shekhar and Madhu Chavan have alleged that the Lodha group has indulged in some major violations of DC rules in the four big real estate projects coming up in the island city. They claimed that the construction on these projects was going on without requisite permissions.
They also alleged that the Lodha group was given special treatment by the Shiv Sena-BJP ruled BMC’s administration and Mr Lodha was using his political influence to get the projects done.
The four projects against which allegations have been made are World One — the world’s tallest residential tower with 117- stories, Parks (Worli), Lodha Bellisimo (Mahalaxmi) and new Cuffe Parade coming up at Wadala.
The Congress leaders on Thursday even complained to the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and demanded a high-level probe along with a stop-work order against these projects.
“The CM has assured us of appropriate steps over the complaints,” Mr Jagtap told reporters. He added that these projects are yet to receive necessary permissions from the concerned departments. “How can the Lodha group go on with such projects when they don’t have any required permissions. It is a clear violation of development control rules,” he said.
Mr Lodha, BJP MLA from Malabar Hill, called the allegations politically motivated. “I categorically deny that there is anything illegal in these project as alleged by these Congress MLAs. I challenge them to submit their resignation to the Assembly and then ask for this investigation. I am also willing to put in my resignation and if these allegations are found right, my resignation should be accepted and if not, theirs should be taken,” he said.