Mhada seeks eviction of rebel tenants

 Mhada has sought the forced eviction of tenants who hold up cluster schemes despite being in the minority. The housing board wants the compulsory acquisition of rebel tenants' properties after a developer gets the approval of 60% of the total number of tenants as against the current 70% norm. 

    "Such a drastic step is required as many tenants do not raise genuine objections and make outlandish demands from developers," said a senior Mhada official. 

    The new proposal has sought to clear confusion about the roles of various agencies on evictions and notifications. 

    The civic body, on its part, has focused on development norms. About the proposed removal of the FSI cap of 4, civic officials said that in many schemes, the major portion of FSI would be consumed in constructing rehabilitation buildings. 

    The new proposal was framed following a review meeting of redevelopment schemes by the chief minister, where he expressed unhappiness at the haphazard way single buildings were being redeveloped without proper infrastructure. Keeping Chavan's views in mind, several restrictions to single building redevelopment have been proposed. 

    Kailash Agrawal, managing director, Nish Developers, which is developing a cluster scheme in New Islam Mill Compound, Lower Parel, said, "The government has been unable to clarify certain issues plaguing the cluster redevelopment policy. Under the policy, the government initially allows 50% of the total developable space of a plot to be used for rehabilitation and free sale. The balance 50% is permitted for development later. As the number of tenants for rehabilitation in our project is large, I have had to utilize the whole of the granted 50% space for constructing rehabilitation buildings."