Dispute over 10,000 sq ft civic land in Solapur, proposal deferred after protest

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A dispute has broken out over roughly 10,000 square feet of valuable municipal corporation land in the heart of Solapur city. It is alleged that some people have their eye on the land in the name of social and cultural programmes. A proposal to transfer the land came before the corporation's standing committee, after which the matter became controversial.

After members approved the proposal, Shiv Sena group leader Amol Shinde and AIMIM group leader Azhar Hundekari strongly objected and opposed it. Because of this opposition, standing committee chairperson Ranjita Chakute was eventually forced to defer the proposal.

The land is said to be at city survey number 6042 in Siddheshwar Peth. Members Bharatsing Badurwale and Bijju Pradhane had proposed that the land be given to the Umaji Sanstha of the Chittod Rajput Lohar community for cultural and public programmes. But some other organisations have also staked a claim to the same land, leaving the administration facing a tangle over who the land should ultimately go to and for what purpose.

There is talk in the corridors of the corporation that different organisations are making efforts to secure this land. Some office-bearers are said to be pushing corporators from their own community to make rounds of the commissioner's and other officials' offices. Opponents allege that a proposal is being brought in the name of one organisation or another as an attempt to grab the land.

The land is at a highly prime location in the heart of the city, which gives this 10,000 square foot plot considerable value from a commercial and development standpoint. There is a demand that before handing the land to any one organisation, the corporation should thoroughly examine all claims, ownership, reservation status, purpose of use and legal aspects.

Meanwhile, it is said that an old building on the land was declared dangerous and issued a notice, after which it was demolished with permission. The plot now lies vacant. But there is talk that one person or a few people from the Maratha community took particular interest in the process from the demolition onward, and demands for an investigation into the whole matter are growing.

Several questions came up in the standing committee, including who actually holds ownership of this 10,000 square foot land, how different organisations can stake a claim to the same land, what the rules are for allotting land for social and cultural programmes, and what the land will be used for going forward now that the building has been demolished.

Shiv Sena group leader Amol Shinde said it was not right to lease municipal land in the name of a community, and that the proposal, which had been passed by majority, had to be stopped because of the uproar. He said they would strongly oppose handing over any municipal land to anyone, and that a sharp agitation would be launched on the issue if needed.

Following the opposition to the proposal, the matter now stands deferred, but given the activity around this prime municipal plot, residents of Solapur are watching to see what stance the administration takes next.

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