Social activist says no amount of political pressure can make him give up his plans

Hunger strike: Ajit Pawar talks to Anna

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Hunger strike: Ajit Pawar talks to Anna

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Social activist says no amount of political pressure can make him give up his plansu00a0

Newly appointed Deputy CM and senior NCP politician Ajit Pawar is keen to ensure that the Lavasa controversy is quickly forgotten. He has approached social activist Anna Hazare to give up plans of a hunger strike against the scandals related to Lavasa city.

The hill-city ran into controversy when the Ministry of Environment and Forest slapped a show-cause notice on Lavasa Corporation for carrying out construction works without the ministry's approval. It had said that the construction was carried out 1,000 m above sea level against the permitted limit of 640 to 900 m.

Telephonic talk
"We had a telephonic conversation. I am going to see him personally in Nagpur with Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat and Irrigation Minister Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar," said Pawar. He refused to reveal any details of their conversation.

Hazare has stated that he would not bow to political pressure and would go ahead with his hunger strike.
It is reported that Pawar is keen to settle the Lavasa issue before the winter session of the assembly starts tomorrow.

Dr Neelam Gorhe, state spokesperson for Shiv Sena, said that the winter session would prove difficult for the Congress-NCP combine.

"It's going to be real stormy because we are tired of the government's multiple scams and will tear them apart on Lavasa scandal this time," she said.

Prakash Bongale, assistant director, town planning, Pune branch, said they could not make any comments on the controversy as the government had given Lavasa Corporation the planning authority's special rights under secton 14 (1), (B) of Maharashtra Town Planning Act.

"On that capacity Lavasa is purchasing land for its project every year. In the year 2000 it was only 650 acres but it purchased a lot more. Of late, Lavasa has started purchasing land from the locals. We have no clue how much land Lavasa has in its possession," said Bongale.

There is a tug-of-war over which department should take action, as revenue department is responsible for the land being used for the Lavasa project while the irrigation department is responsible for the water issues.

There are claims that if water from Varasgaon reservoir is diverted to Lavasa, then it will lead to water problems in the city.

"We will, however, conduct an inquiry if there is any violation of rules in construction of buildings. As the authority to Lavasa was issued by the collector, we are waiting for him to send us orders to conduct an inquiry," he said.