Maps, survey sheets in Adarsh case go missing

Maps and certain survey sheets from 1872-1960, related to Adarsh land and surrounding Colaba areas have gone missing from the land records office in the city, the two-member Commission, probing the housing society scam was told here.

Sanjay Dikhle, Superintendent of City Survey and Land Records, in a cross examination yesterday by senior advocate Dipan Merchant, representing the inquiry panel, informed that historical maps of 1847 (the first time when Mumbai was mapped scientifically) and 1882 were "not available" in his office.

The maps of 1847 or 1882 could have shown whether the Adarsh plot existed at the time.

"Certain survey sheets from 1872-1960 pertaining to the Adarsh land and surrounding areas in Colaba are missing," Dikhle said.However, survey maps of 1872 were available, he said.

This is the fourth instance of key files related to Adarsh high-rise going missing. First from the urban development department, subsequently from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and then from the Army headquarters here.