Mhada revokes redevpt nod to 22 developers

Mumbai: Mhada on Friday cancelled the letters of intent (LoI) (permissions) granted to 22 developers to redevelop cessed buildings acquired by Mhada in the island city. As the developers had failed to redevelop the buildings in the ten years since permissions were granted, Mhada will now do so itself. 

    Senior officials from the Mumbai building repair and reconstruction board (MBRRB) said they had to cancel the LoIs as the developers were repeatedly seeking extensions to implement the projects on various pretexts. The officials added that in some cases, the developers had stopped work after constructing the building up to the plinth level as they wanted higher incentive developable space under amended rules. "Such delays were causing hardship to existing tenants, who for years either had to reside in the dilapidated buildings or in transit camps," said a senior official. "Mhada has therefore decided to redevelop the plots, measuring roughly 15,000 sq m, and provide affordable housing stock in south Mumbai. Details will be worked out in some time," the official added. 
    The housing authority has also decided to amend the Mhada Act so that it can take possession of those flats in redeveloped buildings that tenants have refused to occupy even after sufficient time has passed. "We had received complaints that some tenants had refused to occupy flats in redeveloped buildings. Taking advantage of the refusals, the developer in turn had sold these flats in the open market. Though such cases are rare, we want to prevent these incidents in future," said a senior MBRRB official.