Damania questions 1,200-acre land lease to Supriya Sule's son-in-law's firm

Social activist Anjali Damania has raised questions over a land allotment by the Maharashtra government. According to Damania, the government has leased 1,200 acres of fertile land at Haregaon village in Ahilyanagar district to Mumbai-based Vishwaraj Renewables Private Limited. She said the company belongs to Sarang Lakhani.

Damania said Sarang Lakhani is the son-in-law of NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule and the son of BJP Legislative Council member Arun Lakhani. According to her, Lakhani is considered close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Under an order issued on October 5, the land of the Maharashtra State Agriculture Corporation has been leased to the company for 49 years.

Damania also said the allotment came just two weeks after an order was issued leasing 1,500 acres to another private company, the Nibe Group. In addition, the government has given 1,500 acres to the DRDO for defence-related projects.

Damania first questioned the tender process. She asked why no tender was floated for such a large land deal and whether competitive bidding could have fetched the government a higher lease amount. She also expressed concern over the allotment process and the lease terms.

She said that in June the government had decided, under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, to set up a green energy park on the same land through Mahaurja. But just three months later, in September, the same 1,200 acres was handed directly to a private company. Damania asked on whose instructions the policy was changed. According to her, the government order gives no reason for it.

Damania also questioned the 48-year lease arrangement, which can be extended by another 48 years. She asked why the land was not first leased for a five-year trial period. She also asked why the security deposit was waived. Damania alleged that some businessmen enter politics and use political power to make money.

According to the order, Vishwaraj Renewables has been permitted, subject to government approval, to sublease the land to its subsidiary or another group company. The company has also been exempted from obtaining an NOC from the Maharashtra State Agriculture Corporation for this. The order refers to a meeting held on June 23, attended by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Industries Minister Uday Samant and Environment Minister Pankaja Munde.

The allotment has revived the old land dispute at Haregaon. About 7,376 acres were taken from local farmers during British rule. The original owners and their families are demanding their land back. On September 15, the state government had decided to return land to the original farmers. Even so, some land under the corporation's control is now being leased for defence and energy projects.

On August 23, the government had issued an order leasing 1,500 acres to the Nibe Group and 1,500 acres to the DRDO. The October 5 order provides for leasing an additional 1,200 acres to Vishwaraj Renewables. These allotments have raised questions over the process followed, the lease terms and the claims of the original families who cultivated the land.

Responding to the controversy, Supriya Sule said her son-in-law's business and professional activities are entirely his personal matter. She said, "What business or work my son-in-law does is entirely his personal matter. How can I comment on it?"