Pay tenants' rent: CM Fadnavis to HDIL

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked a private developer to submit concrete plan of redevelopment of Patrawala chawl, Goregaon and pay pending rent of tenants in 15 days. The CM also said that the government would cancel the developing rights of the developer if the rent is not paid. This comes in the backdrop of a probe report by the state housing department that suggests action against Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) officials and the guilty developer over alleged irregularities in the multi-crore suburban redevelopment project.

The Asian Age had reported a week ago that due to wrong calculations by Mhada while charging premium, the developer was benefited to the tune of Rs 414 crore. On Wednesday, Mr Fadnavis, tweeted: “Chaired a meeting to solve long pending issue of redevelopment of Goregaon, Patra chawl and their pending rents. Directed the concerned developer to immediately pay rents and submit a concrete plan within 15 days of further schedule.”

Cabinet ministers namely Ravindra Waikar, Shubhash Desai and Prakash Mehta attended the meeting for the project that has been mired in delays over controversies since 2008. The housing department had received complaints from residents that the building firm had parcelled out the developer’s sale component in the project to another developer. The transfer of the sale component was allegedly done without rehabilitating existing tenants.

Mr Waikar, minister of state for housing, said, “The CM took the meeting today. He asked the developer (HDIL) to do the needful in 15 days or else we will cancel their development rights and the government will take redevelopment of the chawls in its hands. I have also submitted the report by the housing department and asked him to direct the police to book Mhada officials too, who were involved in the irregularities.”

When contacted, Hariprakash Pandey, senior vice-president, finance and investor relations, HDIL, said, “I have no idea about the matter and directions. I will have to check with my company. Without knowing on the issue, I cannot comment.”