Mhada gets HC nod to review prime Versova redevpt project

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday allowed Mhada to go ahead with its move to review the mega redevelopment project spread over 40 acres at a prime location in Versova worth over Rs 500 crore.      Hearing a review petition filed by some residents of Aram Nagar, a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice R P SondurBaldota said the pendency of the petition would not come in the way of Mhada undertaking a review. The HC also asked Mhada to file its affidavit in the case before the next hearing on July 21.      Aram Nagar in Versova comprises 357 structures. In 2008, the government permitted redevelopment of the land. The project proposes to re-house the existing tenants in around 257 flats in multi-storey towers and 100 row houses, each spread over an area of 1,230 square feet. The developer, East West builders, and Mhada, which owns the land, will be entitled to built-up area on completion of the project.      Mhada told the HC that it was in the process of renegotiating with the builder as it was entitled to more area from the builder.      Senior advocate Janak Dwarakadas, who is representing the petitioners, said if Mhada can renegotiate the deal, why can't the tenants. "Why should tenants be happy with 1,230 sq ft flats," he asked. He alleged that the project did not have 70% mandatory consent of tenants and neither had the builder paid the Rs 24 crore he had promised as corpus fund. The residents have sought a review of the 2010 judgment of the court dismissing their petitions.