Barter deal withdrawn

The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) has reportedly withdrawn an offer to barter a road facing plot in Panthaki Baug, Andheri with a landlocked area in the same colony.

According to the Mumbai Mirror (MM) of October 8, 2009, the BPP on September 23 withdrew their exchange proposal made to the Charity Commissioner (CC).

MM quoted BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta as saying: "We have withdrawn our application with liberty to file another petition. It has nothing to do with objections raised by community members.” Mehta contended both plots are of the same size but if the builder developed the plot the BPP would have to provide an access road through the colony. "People who claim the community will suffer a loss are talking through their hat,” Mehta averred according to MM.

Community activist Homi Dalal had filed an application with the CC opposing the exchange alleging the trust plot was valued at Rs 8.46 crores while the landlocked area was worth only Rs 2.82 crores according to an architect’s valuation report he had commissioned.

"The two plots are not comparable though they are of the same size. They are giving away a prime plot for a ridiculous consideration,” alleged Alert Zoroastrians Association leader Kersi Randeria, according to MM. The daily also stated Mehta as saying the terms of the contract "were not very clear” and that the contract would be "reworked.”