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Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: August 31: Sunil Patil is the new chairman of City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), CBD-Belapur. He took charge of his office today amidst warm greetings and bouquets of flowers from colleagues and CIDCO stakeholders. Patil who is also an NCP member expressed his gratitude to Sharad Pawar and the Guardian Minister, Ganesh Naik. While the CIDCO PRO, Budhhabhushan Gaekwad in his welcome speech congratulated the new chairman for his “third inning” in office, Sunil Athale, CIDCO Employees’ Union Leader eulogized his “liberal attitude.” While speaking to the press, Patil expressed his desire to accomplish the tasks that the other chairmen in office couldn’t accomplish. He said, “It’s my responsibility to pay heed to the development of the city. I’ll ensure that the loopholes are taken care of and the pending work finished.”

Project Affected People (PAPs) and their concern have been a constant source of tension for CIDCO. Mr Patil said that CIDCO would fulfill their demands. “The PAPs and the 12.5% rehabilitation scheme will be our first priority.” What about the deduction of non-cultivable land (Pot Kharaba) from the total area of land acquired, he refused to comment citing, “I first need to go through the documents before making any statements. Our mission is clear I’m aware of this area and I know of the problems suffered by the PAPs so it’s my duty to consider their rights.”

CIDCO has been bearing the brunt of the common man’s anger as the organisation is often accused to be ‘rich friendly’ and quite apathetic about the conditions of the average man. This is amply proved in the case of the residents of the J-9 type buildings in Vashi. Despite CIDCO’s many promises of rebuilding their dilapidated buildings, nothing has happened so far. “We want to target the common man and we are working towards it. I have heard of the problems suffered by the residents of J-9 type buildings. We definitely want to help them. However, when asked about the land scams he refused to comment due to lack of information on the subject.

Patil also said that he will have discussions with his NCP compatriot Aviation Minister, Praful Patel over the second airport, but fought shy of revealing any further. “It would not be right to talk about the content of the meetings at this juncture.”

Swati Pandey