Uddhav Thackeray, Prakash Mehta discuss housing policy

Housing minister Prakash Mehta and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting on Friday at Matoshree reportedly to discuss the housing policy for the state. Sources said the government was likely to disclose its housing policy next month and was also consulting the Sena chief.

With the civic poll imminent in early 2017 and housing a persistent problem, the need to release the government policy was felt.

“Uddhavji had invited Mr Mehta to discuss the housing policy. He gave some valuable suggestions to the minister on what could be included in the policy. His emphasis was on ‘housing for all’. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray are likely to disclose the policy next month,” a Sena leader who was present for the meeting said.

The policy is important for the state and city alike. It will impact the city more, as it faces a series of problems, including cessed buildings, redevelopment of dilapidated buildings, among others, an official from the housing department said on the condition of anonymity. The new policy will also have a provision for affordable housing, which is the pet project of the government.

However, the government is yet to form a housing regulator to look into complaints related to housing, though the Centre has approved an act for the same.

The Sena chief held another meeting with his ministers on the GST bill that was approved by the Parliament in the last monsoon session. The state government is holding a special session on approving the GST bill on August 28. The Sena had earlier opposed the bill and some of its provisions.