On orders of the Union Urban Development Minister Ram Jethmalani, the Union Government has restored possession of the plot to the State Government. Though the Maharashtra government owned the plot since 1960, the Union Government and the bureaucracy never allowed the State to actually possess the plot and develop it. The commercial value of the plot in today's market is estimated at a whopping Rs 700 crore.

Talking to reporters at his chamber in Mantralaya, State Public Works Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that he was communicated the decision this afternoon by the Union Government. ``I am very happy that Maharashtra now has its own place in New Delhi. We are now planning to construct a huge Maharashtra Sadan on the plot which will have, apart from accommodation, a series of art galleries reflectingcultural and other sides of Maharashtra. I thank Jethmalani for taking the decision of restoring possession of the plot to us,'' Gadkari said. He said the State Government will ask various corporations like the Maharashtra State Electricity Board or the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to share the cost of construction of the proposed Maharashtra Sadan.

The plot, popularly known as Sirmur plot and situated at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, was purchased by the then King of Baroda way back in 1932, from the then Sirmur state. After Baroda State merged into the then Bombay Presidency, the plot became property of the latter. A formal announcement to this effect was made in 1951. After Maharashtra, including Mumbai, was announced a separate state in 1960, the plot became property of the State Government.

Gadkari said the present Maharashtra Sadan was a small place and failed to accommodate many visitors. He said the State Government wanted to utilise the plot for the last several years, but could not doso as the Union Government did not allow it. ``All Chief Ministers and Public Works Ministers of Maharashtra have been pursuing the matter with New Delhi, but there was not any favourable reply. Recently, the Union Government offered an alternative plot measuring 1.5 acres at some other locality in New Delhi. The State Government was, however, keen on getting back the Sirmur plot,'' Gadkari added.

A letter faxed from the Union Urban Development department to the State Government reads: ``Keeping in view that the property, by law vests in the Government of Maharashtra, the President of India has approved to the restoration of the possession of Sirmur plot to the Government of Maharashtra.'' The State, thus, finally won a battle against the Centre.