In a letter to authority’s CEO, Mumbai Board chairman says many proposals underway without his knowledge.
Officials of the Mumbai Board of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) are taking forward a plan to redevelop two of their major colonies in gross misuse of the Slum Act.
The colonies have been categorised as slums despite the Mhada Act making it categorical that none of the colonies belonging to the authority could be developed under the Slum Act.
In a letter written to the vice-president and the chief executive officer (CEO) of the authority, the chairman of the Mumbai Board, Amarjit Singh Manhas, has lodged a strong protest against the plan and sought an inquiry.
As per the proposal sent by Mhada Mumbai Board chief architect Pravin Salukhe for approval, the authority wants to redevelop the colonies — Kannamwar Nagar and Tagore Nagar — under Slum Act Development Control (DC) rule 33 (10) under section 3k.
Kannamwar Nagar is the biggest Mhada colony with 11,000 tenements; Tagore Nagar has 3,500. There are 56 such colonies in the island city.
“As per my knowledge, only a government declared slum could be put up for redevelopment under the Slum Act. I wish to be made aware whether Mhada colonies could be redeveloped using the Slum Act and DC rules. I have been informed that certain such proposals are under process in the Mumbai Board, without me (the chairman) and other members of the board being informed,’’ Manhas in his letter to the CEO, asking for a through probe. A copy of the letter is with DNA.
The controversy revolves around the document signed by Salunkhe and submitted to the Mumbai Board chief executive officer. “Colonies such as Tagore Nagar and Kannamwar Nagar have the potential for redevelopment due to their huge area and population. A letter of intent (LoI) should be released for their redevelopment under the provisions of 3k. This will enable us to go ahead and get the consent letter, development agreement and proposal from the concerned societies within specified time limit,” says the document, a copy of which is also with DNA.
What is more shocking is that the document says that this clause was added to the proposal agenda after it was submitted.
When contacted, Mhada vice president Gautam Chatterjee said it was impossible to implement a redevelopment plan on Mhada land through the Slum Act. “It is certainly not possible. However, if any official is found putting up such proposal, we will inquire into it,” he told DNA.
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