Letter sent to Devendra Fadnavis seeking a probe

Over alleged corruption by MMRDA in identifying project-affected people

At a time when real estate market price in the city is on the rise, activists have alleged a housing scam running into crores involving Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and SPARC, an NGO which conducts surveys for the MMRDA. The NGO helps in identifying the number of project-affected people (PAP) under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) — an initiative to bring about improvement in the traffic and transport situation in the Mumbai metropolitan region with assistance from World Bank.

In a letter dated May 20, 2016, activists have written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who also happens to be the chairman of MMRDA seeking an inquiry into the housing scam where MMRDA officials in nexus with private survey agencies inflating the number of PAP’s and selling off to people who are not eligible for rehabilitation.

Kailash Sharma, activist and a PAP of a project under MUTP in Vikhroli has in a letter demanded that state government should carry out inquiry into all the allotments done till now by the MMRDA to the PAPs since 1995 for the state to unearth the housing scam.

Mr Sharma further stated, “MMRDA officers in nexus have allotted flats to bogus PAPs. For example, in case of a MUTP project at Vikhroli the MMRDA was supposed to rehabilitate around 240 slum dwellers, but on paper the officials have shown that they have rehabilitated 310 slum dwellers further using 70 flats in selling off to fake PAP’s by representing fake documents.”

Devidas Sonawne, another PAP, said, “I was supposed to be allotted a flat in exchange of leaving my slum where CR is working on the extension of 5th and 6th line between Kurla and Thane. It has been almost ten years that I have vacated the slum, yet have not received any flat. Moreover, the MMRDA officials now claim that I am not eligible for the same. How is this possible If I am not eligible, why is MMRDA giving me shelter in transit camp ”

Mr Sharma claimed that the same type of modus operandi has been adopted by MMRDA officials for their project under MUTP in Kanjurmarg, Jogeshwari. He added, “Mutually, MMRDA officials in nexus with private survey agencies are continuously causing monitory losses to the state government since 1995. When I registered my complaints against SPARC, they sent goons to my place and tried to torture my family. They even held me at gunpoint asking me to suppress my objection.

Both the NGO and Vishram Patil, chief of social development cell, MMRDA were not available for comments. UPS Madan, metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA, said, “I can respond if specific information or instances of any irregularity is provided.” When this correspondent provided Mr Madan with specific instance he did not reply.