“The tenants of Patra Chawl have moved a step towards getting their homes. I give my word that they will get their homes in the next three years,” said Awhad, housing minister, Maharashtra.
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday inaugurated the Patra chawl redevelopment project, which had been stalled for over a decade, impacting 672 tenants. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and housing minister Jitendra Awhad were also present at the ceremony.
“The tenants of Patra Chawl have moved a step towards getting their homes. I give my word that they will get their homes in the next three years,” said Awhad. “I request all those who have finally got their homes after a long struggle, not to sell these homes and leave the city,” said Thackeray. “We look forward to being invited for tea to your homes,” he added.
The committee of residents had met authorities last year and the decision was taken to find a solution for the long-pending project.
The project, spread over 47 acres in Goregaon, had long been stalled due to controversy. The project was being executed by Mhada in 2008 and the contract was given to Guru Ashish Developers, a subsidiary of HDIL, to rehabilitate the chawl inhabitants. A tripartite agreement was signed between Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd, tenants society and Mhada.
There were complaints of non-payment of rent by the developer to residents. Mhada issued a termination notice to the developer in January 2018. Against this notice, the developer sold his share of the project to nine other developers without Mhada’s permission. The nine developers filed a suit in the Bombay high court. The redevelopment project was then stalled due to legalities.
In 2020, the state government appointed Johnny Joseph, a retired chief secretary, to study the project and recommend solutions. Following his recommendations and the feedback from Mhada, the cabinet approved redevelopment in June 2021.
