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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, November 18: The Mumbai board of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority MHADA seems to have closed the chapter on one of its housing schemes under the Mumbai Urban Development Project. The scheme, which ground to a halt in 1991 for violating the Coastal Regulation Zone CRZ, has now reached a dead end, as MHADA has decided to refund 6,000-odd hopefuls the money 8211; up Rs 500 to a couple of lakhs 8211; they had deposited under the project.
The scheme, kicked off in 1984 and aided by a World Bank loan of Rs 75.48 crore, was to be implemented through the next 10 years. MHADA was to acquire 525 hectares and allot plots on a 90-year lease to build houses, mainly for the lower-income group. In Mumbai, 385.64 hectares were acquired at Charkop 139.7 hectare, Gorai 101.83 hectare, Kandivli 6.75 hectares Akurli, Kandivli 9.64 hectares, Versova 29.9 hectares, Malvani 44.42 hectares, Charkop 43.19 hectares and Mulund 10.01 hectares. The allotment was done by a lottery method forindividual and co-operative housing society plots.
MHADA had even contributed Rs 133 crore towards acquiring the land and providing drains, water, sewerage and electricity. Many of the building plans had also been passed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
But when the CRZ notification banning construction within minimum 50 meters and maximum 500 metres of the high tide line came into effect in 1991, allotment of plots and construction plans for the plot were put on hold. And with all of MHADA8217;s open land being given to the Shiv Shahi Punarvasan Prakalp SSPP, MHADA says alternate land will also be out of question.
Considering that a Coastal Zone Management plan is being prepared by the state government, MHADA officials say that the affected land cannot be used at present. The decision to refund the deposits has yet to be ratified by MHADA8217;s executive committee. According to Vishwanath Nerurkar, chairperson of the Mumbai Board, the deposit money of Rs 500 per applicant is likely to be refundedfrom January, 1999. 8220;The percentage of interest will be decided later,8221; he told Express Newsline.
