Ghatkopar SRA scam linked to ex-Sena minister: Mehta

BLAME GAME Housing minister hits back at opposition, says his hands are clean

Housing Minister Prakash Mehta on Sunday linked former Shiv Sena Minister Sureshdada Jain to the Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) scam in Ghatkopar. Mehta has been criticised by opposition Congress and NCP in the Lower House about his involvement in the SRA project allotted to Nirmal developer.

Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil had in Assembly on Friday claimed ‘Nirmal’ is the new scam of Mehta and he had benefited the builder by giving back the project from Mhada which the builder had surrendered.

Patil had claimed that residents of Mhada transit camp and slum dwellers at Pant Nagar in Ghatkopar told him that a developer, Nirmal Properties and Holding Company Private Limited, was seeking consent from them for a redevelopment project. Mehta has been accused of clubbing

In 1999, Sureshdada Jain (in pic) was the housing minister and Gharkul Housing Development Scheme was given a sanction in 1997.This area was directly under Tata overhead wire and rehabilitation was not possible in this area. At that time, the minister had issued a Government Resolution (GR) to give this project to Dharmesh Jain of Nirmal development and later development rights were given to this builder, Housing Minister Prakash Mehta said

the transit camp redevelopment with a slum rehabilitation project, which could mean a windfall for any developer who gets it.

Speaking to the Free Press Journal, the minister said, “In 1999, Sureshdada Jain was the housing minister and Gharkul Housing Development Scheme was given a sanction in 1997. This area was directly under Tata overhead wire and rehabilitation was not possible in this area. At that time, the minister had issued a Government Resolution (GR) to give this project to Dharmesh Jain of Nirmal development and later development rights were given to this builder.”

He also said, “In 2001, Khobragade was Vice-President of Mhada and he had recommended that this matter should be kept in cold storage. In 2006, the government it they had kept this scheme on hold, there is evidence for both.”

The minister added, “The slum dwellers have not appointed any developer for this redevelopment scheme and the government has not issued any GR to be allotted to any builder. The allegations are wrong. The government has no right to appoint any builder. If the slum dwellers feel Mhada should construct the houses, the government will have to appoint this agency.”