Mumbai: Motilal Nagar residents torn between self-redevelopment & Mhada

  • | Thursday | 15th August, 2019

The massive redevelopment project of the 142-acre Motilal Nagar in Goregaon, which the Maharashtra Housing Area and Development Authority (Mhada) is eyeing, now has a new twist. A bunch of residents is now contemplating self-redevelopment instead of handing over the project to Mhada. Malhari Bhise, the president of Motilal Nagar Rahivasi Vikas Sangh, which is opposing the Mhada redevelopment said, "We stood our ground for the last 60 years. We have also asked for a public presentation from the authority," said Nilesh Prabhu, Joint Secretary, Motilal Nagar Vikas Samiti. According to sources, Mhada officials are planning a meeting with residents and give them a presentation on the redevelopment project.

The massive redevelopment project of the 142-acre Motilal Nagar in Goregaon, which the Maharashtra Housing Area and Development Authority (Mhada) is eyeing, now has a new twist. A bunch of residents is now contemplating self-redevelopment instead of handing over the project to Mhada. This was decided in a meeting of residents held earlier this week. The land in question is owned by Mhada, which planed to generate thousands of affordable houses, which will be distributed through a lottery after handing over new houses to existing residents. Earlier this week two groups of residents met and decided to oppose Mhada's redevelopment plan. They had even allegedly stopped Mhada officials from carrying out a survey. Malhari Bhise, the president of Motilal Nagar Rahivasi Vikas Sangh, which is opposing the Mhada redevelopment said, "We stood our ground for the last 60 years. This area has open spaces, we didn't let people encroach upon it. Even today we have maintained playgrounds in this land-starved metropolitan city. We have spoken to an architect who had suggested us to opt for self-redevelopment. He said that the homes we'll get via self-redevelopment will be much bigger than what Mhada will provide us with." Residents claim that area of the tenement that Mhada will provide them with will be around 968 sq ft. They had been demanding homes measuring close to 1,500 sq ft post redevelopment. On the other hand, another group of residents wants to give Mhada a chance, provided that there is transparency and clarity in the entire process. "Two months ago, the housing authority showed us a presentation on the project. We are for redevelopment. Our demands should be taken into consideration before it decides on the redevelopment process, which it did. We have also asked for a public presentation from the authority," said Nilesh Prabhu, Joint Secretary, Motilal Nagar Vikas Samiti. Chairman of Mhada Mumbai Board Madhu Chavan said that they will pay heed to the request of the tenants and "will carry out redevelopment legally". According to sources, Mhada officials are planning a meeting with residents and give them a presentation on the redevelopment project.

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