Minister defends amendment to Rent Act

After attracting flak from his own party and ally Shiv Sena, housing minister and BJP leader Prakash Mehta tried to defend the proposed amendment in the Rent Control Act. He said that it would only affect people having houses that are bigger than 847 square feet, but could not explain how the area was fixed by the department. He even criticised people who are opposing the amendment by questioning their intentions. However, BJP MLA Raj Purohit met the chief minister requesting him to withdraw the amendment, as it is going to affect over 2 lakh houses and 10 lakh shops across the state.

The state government had last week announced that it would charge rent according to the prevailing market rates for residential tenants living in spaces above 847 square feet and commercial tenants in spaces above 540 square feet, both under the erstwhile ‘pagdi system’.

“I have failed to understand opposition to the amendment in the Rent Control Act by our people from the BJP and our friends. The decision will influence only a certain class of people staying in houses bigger than 847 square feet in areas like Marine Drive and Colaba,” Mr Mehta said.

He even refused to admit the Opposition’s criticism and maintained that common people would not be affected by this decision. “Who are they fighting for The people living in two-three BHK flats will have to pay more rent, then where is the question of opposition to it The decision is not going to affect common people,” he said.

However, Raj Purohit objected to the argument of his own party minister and said that the Rent Control Act is applicable for all of Maharashtra and not only to south Mumbai. “This is a misconception that the Rent Control Act amendment will affect only people in south Mumbai. Also, is it a crime that people are living in bigger flats This is like forcefully displacing people because they cannot afford rent as per ready reckoner rates. I have met the CM and requested him to put the decision on hold,” Mr Purohit said.

Shiv Sena leader from south Mumbai, Pandurang Sakpal pointed out that the proposed amendment has no clarity over how much the rent would increase. “The proposed amendment does not mention on how the new rent will be calculated. Also, it indicates that the residents staying in small houses will gradually have to pay more rent,” Mr Sakpal said.