Redevelopment projects approved by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) will no longer need approval from the housing department, said a circular issued by the state government on Thursday, reversing yet another decision of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
In March 2019, the MVA had issued a circular making housing department clearance mandatory for all Mhada projects in light of the Patra chawl redevelopment scam.
“The powers of approval as well as administrative powers are currently vested with the government. Decentralisation of these powers is required for speedy implementation of development works…the situation existing before the issuance of the March 2021 circular shall be maintained,” said the circular issued on Thursday.
But former housing minister Jitendra Awhad said the checks at the government level were placed in light of the Patra chawl scam, which the government learnt of 5-7 years later, and caused Mhada a loss of Rs 30,000 crore.
“The government does not know what is happening in Mhada projects but is held responsible wh-en things go wrong and it becomes difficult to answer on the floor of the House when such issues are raised…I am hopeful the state will reconsider its decision,” he said.