A House In Disarray

Bombay High Court's decision to conduct an enquiry into the working of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority MHADA, wa...

Bombay High Court8217;s decision to conduct an enquiry into the working of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority MHADA, was long awaited and should be applauded. The august court must have felt the frustration that thousands of residents put up with when having to deal with MHADA, either for getting their buildings repaired or returning to their houses when reconstructed. For too long now has the government housing institution been obfuscating, lying, buying time and doing a shoddy work of its duties, especially in respect to repairs and reconstruction. Is it any wonder that residents of dilapidated houses prefer to challenge fate than go to the blackhole of transit camps? A judicial enquiry could bring out startling facts of corruption that have plagued the institution.

The state government cannot escape censure either. It has had egg on its face in yet another housing facet of the state. And not just in the decision of the court to conduct an enquiry. One of the petitions at the court hadchallenged the Shiv Sena-BJP government8217;s decision to source funds from MHADA for the much-vaunted Shiv Shahi Punarvasan Prakalp. As expected, the state government which has as yet been unable to work out the logistics of the slum rehabilitation programme gave an unclear picture. MHADA itself has a slim surplus of Rs 288 crore which surely cannot be handed over for a venture whose future no one can predict. Of course, the state will stand guarantee, but what stops or has stopped any state government from weakening its own institutions? Neither can one overlook the fact that the real estate slump has stalled the sale of MHADA8217;s residential and commercial flats that it claims will get it the much needed liquidity. Nobody knows how long the depression will continue. While the result of this experiment will have to be borne out by the next government, for the present, the court8217;s taking up the issue for the citizens would clear the maze for the housing body.