83-year-old to get bigger Mhada flat

THE PREVIOUS HC BENCH HAD PULLED UP THE AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR FAILURE TO ADDRESS SUCH ISSUES

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Saturday directed the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) and the Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB) to allot a 760 sq ft vacant flat to an 83-year-old petitioner, who was eligible for a 744 sq ft flat after the dilapidated chawl she lived in underwent redevelopment in 1977.

A division bench of justices BP Dharmadhikari and SV Kotwal was hearing a petition filed by Meher Bano Shaikh, a resident of a transit camp in Vikhroli, through Sayed Muntazir Mahdi in August.

She sought court directives to Mhada and MBRRB to allot her a flat in the newly-constructed building in place of the chawl where she once lived. Shaikh was given a temporary accommodation at Vikhroli transit camp in 1977 and has been living there for the past 41 years.

The petition claimed while Shaikh was eligible for a 744 sq ft flat in 2006, the authorities refused allotment saying flats built were 760 sq ft —16 sq ft more than her eligibility. Shaikh alleged her allotment was cancelled despite offering to pay for the additional 16 sq ft. She even claimed that a few of her neighbours were allotted bigger flats.

MHADA and MBRRB argued that they were following rules and the vacant flat sought by Shaikh was bigger than what she was supposed to get.

After hearing both the sides, the bench ordered the authorities to allot the vacant flat to Shaikh as she had agreed to pay for the additional area.

The previous HC bench had pulled up the authorities for their failure to address such issues owing to which people moved court.

‘WHY THE DELAY?’

After the meeting, Thackeray said, “I have requested his (chief minister’s) urgent intervention in the Mahul issue… the air is polluted, the water is contaminated there; people have no life there. I don’t know what will wake up the government on this issue. I was assured by the CM...I don’t know why the government has not moved ahead in this direction.”

He added, “I had raised the issue with the CM a few months ago, with a Union minister in New Delhi. Although a parliamentary delegation visited Mahul, no real solution has come out.”

Mahul residents have been protesting deplorable living conditions owing to lack of basic civic amenities, contamination of potable water and poor air quality owing to the presence of the three biggest refineries in

‘SCRAP PROPERTY TAX’

At the meeting, Thackeray also pushed for property tax waiver on houses measuring less than 500 sq ft in the city. The proposal was mooted by the civic body last year. He later tweeted, “I also requested the @Cmomaharashtra to take up the proposal from BMC, since last year, to scrap Property Tax of all houses in Mumbai of 500 sq ft and below. He has promised me to take it up soon. Many such proposals are pending with the State that need the urgent attn of govt.”