The Maharashtra government on Tuesday made its first move to develop affordable housing on salt pan land, and directed a five-member committee to examine a proposal put forth by developer Shapoorji Pallonji to construct 1 lakh affordable homes.
The salt pan land selected is located in Kanjurmarg-Bhandup, adjoining the Eastern Express Highway. According to a notification issued by the Revenue and Forests Department, a five-member committee headed by the additional chief secretary, finance, will examine the proposal by the developer and submit a report within 60 days. The panel will also examine if the developer should be given the land by paying a premium, or generating housing stock for the government.
The government had made provisions in the Development Plan 2034 to open up 1,600 acres of salt pan lands for affordable housing on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. Of over 5,000 acres of salt plan land, only 1,600 acres can be used for construction. Satish Nandgaonkar
