STATE ORDERS INQUIRY INTO GOREGAON CHAWL REDVPT SCAM

MUMBAI: Minister of state for housing Ravindra Waikar has ordered an inquiry into the scam in the redevelopment of Patrawala chawl in Goregaon He has asked the principal sec retary of the housing depart ment to appoint a one-member committee to hold an inquiry and submit a report in 15 days

Citing the role of govern ment officials in the scam Waikar sought the committee to fix the responsibility on the builder, bureaucrats and other responsible government employees.

About 672 families were evacuated from the chawl in 2008 after a builder took up the redevelopment project on the 40 acres of land. However the builder has neither given new homes nor has he given rent to these families through the years.

In addition, many irregu larities have been found in the project. The joint measurement by builder and affected fami lies has shown that the actual size of the plot as 47 acres, and not 40 acres. The press release issued by the minister’s office reads that the change in areas was made with the intention to benefit the builder illegally

The builder is found to have violated many terms in the contract it had signed with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) while taking up this project.

Although the builder has not given homes to affected fami lies and due share to Mhada it is found to have subleased the area to another developer and carried out construction beyond what has been permit