CM suspends MHADA official with respect to Patrawala Chawl redevelopment project

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis suspends the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority’s (MHADA) Goregaon division’s executive engineer D K Mahajan on Wednesday for duping MHADA and tenants as well. 

CM orders to scrap the project

CM has not only ordered to file a criminal complaint against the builder but he wants the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to grill the builder. Along with this, he has ordered to scrap the project and has asked MHADA to acquire the land from the builder.

The decision was taken in a meeting with the Patrawala Chawl residents, the affected ones, informed Pankaj Dalvi, resident, Patrawala Chawl.

What’s the story?

• In 2006, under the joint venture, Guru Ashish builders and MHADA joined hands to redevelop Patrawala Chawl of Goregaon
• Under this project, it was decided that the builder would rehabilitate the residents along with building 50 per cent houses for their profit

  and remaining 50 per cent houses will be given to MHADA

• Following the project norms, in 2008, builder rehabilitated 678 residents and started the redevelopment project
• However, in 2011, MHADA found irregularities in 2011 audit
• Upon investigation, MHADA officials realised that the builder duped latter of INR 1,000 crore
• It was revealed that the residents were not rehabilitated and were not given rent as well
• In 2013-14, MHADA officials ordered builder to adjourn the work but the builder did not entertain the order and continued his work
• Even the project was revoked, the builder did not rehabilitate the residents nor he built any homes for MHADA
• Enraged residents then went to CM and asked to take action against the builder

And here comes the twist..

Although the CM demanded MHADA to take action, the latter did not budge. The residents then revealed that MHADA and the builder misinformed the state government saying that they completed 87 per cent of the project, which was a blatant lie. They told the CM that not only the builder but MHADA officials too misguided everyone.

CM Fadnavis then ordered an investigation into the matter and gave the orders to suspend the officials within 24 hours.