MUMBAI: With the policy to allocate public welfare centre plots to NGOs yet to be introduced, the Shiv Sena-controlled BMC's improvement committee is using the caveat to its advantage and allotting such land at its discretion. Recently, the committee allotted a building that was constructed on a prime 5,000 sqft plot in Pali Hill , Bandra (W), to an academy controlled by Shiv Sena leader Vijay Kadam. On getting to know of the allotment, locals raised objections and obtained a stay order from the court.

Locals said that the BMC forcibly took the custody of the structure from the builder two years ago and sealed the plot which is reserved for public welfare use. Recently, the civic improvement committee allotted it Kadam's academy that provides coaching to youngsters preparing for civil services exams.

The BMC has put public welfare centre reservation on various plots across the city and builders who develop structures on such land need to hand over the buildings to the BMC for public use.

Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh said, "It is a clear case of favouritism. The Shiv Sena has allotted the structure to its leader without inviting tenders. All should be given an equal chance."

Three years ago, the civic administration brought in a policy detailing allotment of such plots. The policy stated that there has to be a tendering process before allotment and NGOs need to be scrutinised. However, group leaders and political representative sought changes to the policy and the it has been hanging fire since then.

Opposition leader in the BMC and Congress corporator Ravi Raja said, "The administration has failed to introduce the policy before the group leader after making the changes to it. This is helping the ruling party, Shiv Sena, allot plots to people associated with them without inviting tenders."

Defending the allotment, Shiv Sena corporator Anant Nar said, "Kadam is doing good work by educating youth free of cost. The structure was allotted to him after following all the rules. We would have given it to anyone else at the same cost, then why not Kadam? One should not politicise this."

