
MUMBAI, May 23: Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president and MP from South Mumbai Murli Deora yesterday staged a walk-out at the District Planning and Development Council DPDC meeting protesting against the construction of a helipad at Cuffe Parade.
He protested against the callous attitude of the State Government in view of the acute housing problem faced by the slum-dwellers as well as the tenants of old buildings in the city. Local MLA Ashok Dhatrak also walked out of the meeting in Deora8217;s support. Mayor Nandu Satam was also not present.
Deora criticised the government for showing indifference to the housing problem and stated that the concerned minister for housing and the municipal commissioner have not cared to attend the meeting. 8220;For the convenience of a few ministers, hutments of poor people are demolished at Ambedkar Nagar at Cuffe Parade,8221; said the MP. He added that the work of building repairs has come to a standstill as the Board is starved of funds. 8220;There is massive corruption inthe Board,8221; he charged.
8220;Though the free housing scheme, for which the State was making all sorts of promises, is yet to materialise, the government has come up with a new proposal to sanction additional floor space index. Has anybody thought of infrastructure required?8221; Deora questioned.