CM rejects Centre's request on sale of NTC's surplus land

CM rejects Centre's request on sale of NTC's surplus land
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, AUGUST 28: Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today turned down the Centre's request to allow the National Textiles Corporation (NTC) to dispose of the entire surplus land held by its mills in Mumbai.

Deshmukh refused outright the proposal of Union Minister for Textiles Kanshiram Rana and Union Minister for Heavy Industries Manohar Joshi, who met him here today, to exempt NTC from provisions of the Development Control Rules which allow sale of only one-third of the surplus land of mills. The rest of the surplus land is supposed to be handed over to MHADA and the civic body for public purpose.

Deshmukh told the Union Ministers that the Central government undertaking could not be exempted from provisions of the DC Rules. Further, the state government also disagreed with the NTC's proposed plan to revive textile mills in other states from the proceeds of land sale in Mumbai. The NTC is ready to revive and modernise only two to three mills in the city, which is strongly opposed by labour unions.

While Rana and Joshi explored the possibility of evolving a consensus formula with the state government on the issue, Deshmukh made it clear that the state government would strictly adhere to the Development Control rules. ``NTC could not be exempted from DC Rules,'' he told the union ministers. However, he expressed his willingness to hold another meeting with NTC officials if the Union Law and Judiciary Department gave an opinion different from that of the state government. Further, the state cabinet would discuss the possibility of framing a seperate policy for NTC mills, he assured the Centre. The cabinet will discuss if the government could grant some concessions to NTC provided it invests the entire funds received through sale of land in Maharashtra only, he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Labour Minister Hussain Dalwai, Minister of State for Textiles Prakash Awade, chief secretary A L Bongirwar and other officials were present in the meeting.