MLC writes to Devendra Fadnavis on Mhada quotas for politicos

Independent member in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Kapil Patil has demanded that the state government slash quotas for civic officials, MLAs, MLCs and MPs in the low income category under which homes are allotted by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada).

Mr Patil has shot a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to look into the matter. “Flats constructed by Mhada in Mumbai should be made available for the common public; those who are travelling to the city from the extended suburbs of Mumbai and those who are in desperate need of a house in the city,” the letter written by Mr Patil stated.

Mhada has received flak for reserving 19 homes in its Mumbai board lottery for MPs, MLAs and MLCs (sitting and former), of which 13 were in the economically weaker section (EWS), lower income group (LIG) and middle income group (MIG) category.

The state housing authority has maintained that it had reserved them in keeping with the Mhada Act.

Moreover, Mr Patil stated, “People out of no option are residing on streets and slums in Mumbai and at no cost Mhada flats should be reserved for IAS officers, MLA, MLC or MPs.”

However, though the Mhada had cited the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Act, 1976, which has a provision for reserving flats for politicians, it had earlier ignored the suggestion given by a committee headed by former deputy Lokayukta Suresh Kumar, in 2013, to slash EWS and LIG quota for politicians as their basic salaries were generally above the eligible salary under the EWS and LIG category.

Mr Patil further stated that in 2009, the then chief minister Ashok Chavan had allotted him a Mhada flat in Versova, but he had returned it.