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Hazare demands probe into Sahara project

Well-known anti-corruption crusader and noted social worker Anna Hazare has demanded a probe into the upcoming Sahara India project project near Pune, Maharashtra.

Hazare, who has crossed paths with the alliance Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the past, claimed the report tabled by the government-appointed Ajit Warty Commission was unreliable. "No one will believe it. And no one will accept it," he said. The anti-corruption crusader has demanded a thorough probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation to delve into the Sahara India project.

Hazare was speaking to the media last week in Bombay en route to Turkey to participate in a discussion titled 'Irrigation Development and Management'.

Hazare also lambasted the state government's proposal to regularise over 12,000 square metres of unauthorised construction, completed by Sahara India, which had paid a measly penalty of Rs 5.5 million.

"Such instances of regularising unauthorised construction work can only happen under a dictatorial regime. Such things are unheard of in a democracy. Regularising unauthorised structures is not only an environmental crime but but also a social and national crime," the popular social worker said.

"It doesn't look good for a chief minister to regularise unauthorised structures by imposing a measly penalty," Hazare said, referring to state Chief Minister Manohar Joshi. "I have some files and documents related to a scam in the Sahara project. I'm studying these files now. I will then meet the prime minister and apprise him about the Sahara project scam after receiving some more papers, and demand a CBI probe," he added.

Hazare objected to persons with criminal records purchasing forest land near Pune and the state government's quickly approving the same. Hazare pointed out that even Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde (of the BJP) had levelled similar allegations against the state government.

Hazare pointed out that even if the forest land under question belongs to a private party, it cannot be developed by law. "Nobody is entitled to construct anything on forest land," he said.

Compiled and translated from the Marathi media by Prasanna Zore