90-year-old travels far to meet CM, but returns disillusioned

With hopes pinned high, 90-year-old Maruti Raosaheb Kakade travelled all the way from Surawadi village in Satara to meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in the city yesterday to voice his grievances. His hopes however were shattered and the effort and money spent on his journey were wasted, as the leader Kakade believed would be his saviour, briefed media persons and left abruptly in cavalcade.

Seeking justice: Armed with all the relevant documents, Maruti Kakade squats on the floor at the entrance of Council Hall

Chavan was at Council Hall in the city yesterday and Kakade's sole desire was to be granted a chance to be heard. With all hope gone, a disappointed Kakade returned to his village.

CM Prithviraj Chavan addresses the media. Chavan was at Council Hall in the city yesterday and Kakade's sole desire was to be granted a chance to be heard. Pics/Krunal Gosavi

Kakade's humble request was for the CM to look into a matter regarding transfer of a three-acre plot of land in his village that belonged to his mother. Kakade came armed with the relevant documents to show that the land had not been transferred in his name, despite the Satara District Court ordering that it be done a few years ago. Since the court ruling, Kakade has been running from pillar to post to meet divisional commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh and Chavan.

When MiD DAY contacted Kakade's son Kisan in Surawadi village, he said that his father wanted the three-acres of land which belonged to the family transferred, after the grandmother's death as per the rules of heir registration.

"This is not the first time he has tried to meet the CM and he tried to meet him earlier in Mumbai, but each time he has returned empty handed. My father wants to register the land in his name as rightful heir, after five of his six brothers and a sister passed away. One of my uncles made a fake will in my grandmother's name and inserted his name as an heir.

However, Satara District court has given a verdict in our favour. Still the talathi in the village refuses to give ownership of the land to my father saying that there is no clear mention of his sole ownership," Kisan said.

When contacted, DK Kharade, talathi of Surawadi village, said that the land has already been registered in Kakade's name as heir, but he is adamant about having his sixth brother's name not included in the document.

"I didn't know he had gone to Pune to meet the CM. We worry about him, as he never tells us where he is going. Previously, my father tried to meet NCP leader Ajit Pawar, but was unsuccessful," Kisan said.

Kisan added that he hopes that the CM will meet and address his father's issue one day. u00a0

Yavatmal, Tamhini-Sudhagad declared wildlife sanctuaries
THE state Wildlife Board in the city finally sanctioned Isapur Bird Sanctuary in Yavatmal and Tamhini-Sudhagad as Wildlife Sanctuaries yesterday, after meeting seven times in this regard. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. The CM briefed the media thereafter and said that the proposals of both the sanctuaries have been sent to the union government for the suggestions and recommendations.u00a0Besides the proposals of sanctuaries, Chavan informed that for the first time in the state Jayakwadi, Nandur-Madhyemshwar and Lonar would be announced as wetlands under the Ramson Agreement. The Ramson Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.

Chavan said that growth in the tiger population has seen remarkable improvement with the population in the state reaching 200 from 169 in 2010. Regarding man-animal conflict, Chavan said that the compensation for a tiger attack victim would be increased to Rs 5 lakh from the earlier Rs 2 lakh. Chavan also informed that as the surrounding area of Karnala Bird Sanctuary has been declared an eco-sensitive zone, the proposal for the new airport in Navi Mumbai could encounter problems. u00a0"As the state government didn't identify the jurisdiction of the eco-sensitive area, the union government's present definition of an eco-sensitive zone would be 10 km from wild life sanctuaries," Chavan said.u00a0 u00a0