Now, MHADA to redevelop its own buildings

The residents of old MHADA colonies who wish redevelop their old buildings, but fear being cheated by private builders, have a reason to smile as the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority ( MHADA) has plans to take up the redevelopment of MHADA colonies in Mumbai instead of the present arrangement of private builder carrying out redevelopment.

Jairam Palsamkar (29), a resident of SVP Nagar MHADA colony in Andheri ( west) said, " There are many builders who have approached our society for the redevelopment of our society with lucurative offers but we are not sure about trusting any builder because of cases in the past, where tenants have been cheated by private developers." " I would really not mind if I get a lesser area compared to what builders are offering me but the condition is that MHADA should take up the redevelopment process," added Satyavijay Kadu.

There have been many instances in the past where it was noted that in initial stages private builders offer lucrative deals to some of the tenants of MHADA colonies but once they get possession of the land they refuse to give the area promised to the tenants.

Speaking to FPJ, a MHADA official on condition of anonymity said, " During the Mumbai board meeting that was held on Wednesday, the plan to make amendments in the Development Control Regulations ( DCR) so that MHADA can take up redevelopment of our colonies was discussed." When the issue was discussed in the meeting some of the members made suggestions where they said that the present section 33 ( 5) of the DCR needs to be modified.

The MHADA is also going to move a proposal on amendment regarding the same for approval in the Mumbai board meeting that has been scheduled in the first week of September. Once the proposal gets a go- ahead from the board members it would be sent to the housing authority for clearance.

Later the proposal would be forwarded to the state government to clear it in the upcoming winter session of assembly in Nagpur. According to the MHADA official, if this amendment happens the redevelopment of those decrepit MHADA colonies that are not lucrative for developers would be undertaken by the housing authority.

" In this manner, the additional homes that would be constructed will not be sold directly in the open market but would be made available as part of affordable housing by way of lottery process," added the official.

In Mumbai, there are altogether 56 MHADA colonies, wherein 3,701 buildings exist. Out of these, many residents of 406 buildings have approached MHADA to approve their redevelopment. Till date, 114 buildings have already received the ' No Objection Certificate', so that private builders can start redevelopment work. The land bank of MHADA has almost gone dry, which is forcing them to amend or enact certain rules so that a regular process of sale of affordable homes by way of lottery draw can happen.