Mhase presses for sur vey work and building confidence among tenants
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Mumbai Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yogesh Mhase held a review meeting with officials regarding the proposed redevelopment of Bombay Development Directorate (BDD) Chawls at all three layouts --Naigoan, NM Joshi Marg and Worli on Tuesday.
In the meeting, the tenants' representatives and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) contractor appointed for Naigoan BDD chawl redevelopment project were also present.
Kiran Mane, General Secretary, BDD Chawl Hakk Savrakshan Samiti, a residents' association, who was part of this meeting said, "CEO (Mhase) has asked the team to resume survey work at Naigoan BDD chawl with proper coordination with political and tenants' representatives in a bid to ensure the process is completely smooth."
Some of the tenants at Naigoan have refused to vacate their homes following lack of trust eventually halting the revamp projects over three years now. Out of 42 buildings here, only five buildings' property ownership document verification and survey work have been completed. In fact, this meeting was called following BDD chawl residents who are in support of redevelopment had time and again expressed their disappointment over delay in project work. Besides, housing minister Jitendra Awhad and CM Uddhav Thackeray had directed MHADA to expedite all projectrelated works. Following the delays, L&T which had won the Rs 2,800 crore contract in 2017 for the Naigaon project, had also expressed its desire to withdraw from the project citing no support from residents. MHADA is in regular talks with L&T on this issue. Mane said, "At present people are staying in a 160 sq.ft house with common toilet facility, the redevelopment of BDD will provide bigger houses with individual toilet facility. There will be a great improvement if the project comes into shape. Therefore, the government should create awareness and bring confidence among the tenants. "Families living here and who have turned Covid-19 positive have no separate room to quarantine. Therefore, more members from a singlefamily/house are testing positive." Mane stated.