Maharashtra CM calls for transit camps on mill lands

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today asked the Maharashtra Area and Housing Development Authority (MHADA) to prepare a scheme for constructing transit camps on mill lands for rehabilitating residents of old and dilapidated buildings in Mumbai.

Deshmukh called the meeting to discuss the issue of dilapidated or "cess" buildings in Mumbai at the instance of Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and South Mumbai MP Milind Deora.

Deshmukh also instructed that MHADA should take initiative to seek financial assistance from financial institutions, some of which have shown willingness to finance redevelopment schemes of old buildings.

Under the redevelopment scheme, MHADA should make available flats of 225 sq.ft each free of cost to tenants. If tenants want bigger size flat, then additional space should be made available to them at reasonable rates, Deshmukh said.

MHADA's chief executive officer I S Chahal said that the pre -monsoon survey carried out by MHADA showed that 103 buildings have become dangerous to live in. And 58 of these buildings need urgent repair, while the rest have to be reconstructed completely.

He also said MHADA would require around Rs 300 crore for carrying out this task.

Minister of state for housing development Dayanand Mhaske, chief secretary D K Shankaran, urban development secretary Ramanand Tiwari, housing secretary N Ramarao and municipal commissioner Johny Joseph attended the meeting.