'No discounted rate for Team Anna's hunger strike'

Mumbai, Dec 20: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority ruled out any reduction in the rate for Team Anna's Mumbai protest as the authorities agreed to rent out 30,000 square metres plot in Mumbai for Rs 2-2.50 lakh per day for the agitation kickstarting On Dec 27. Team Anna has stated that the rent is too steep.

"We cannot reduce the rates. We don't have any authority. Rules are rules. Either they take it, or leave," said Anil Wankhede, MMRDA's Deputy Metropolitan Commissioner.

Mr Wankhede has given the place to Team Anna on the grounds of religious, social and commercial cause and for government functions and events. "For commercial events, the rates are Rs. 10.8 per sqm for 2011 and from January 1 the rates will increase to Rs. 13 per sqm. Team Anna's application comes under the 'social cause' category and we have accordingly charged them Rs. 6.8 per sq mtr for 2011 and Rs. 8.15 per sq m for 2012,"said Wankhede

Mayank Gandhi, core member of Team Anna, asserted that the rent is too high and there was some hope that the the authorities would reduce the price.

OneIndia News