Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) on Wednesday announced that it would hold a lottery for 972 houses in Mumbai this year.
Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) on Wednesday announced that it would hold a lottery for 972 houses in Mumbai this year. Interestingly, MPs, MLAs and MLCs have housing reservation in the middle income group (MIG) and lower income group (LIG), and two houses have been reserved for them even in the economically weaker section (EWS).
Mhada has published an advertisement for 972 flats, which will be sold to people in August through the lottery system. The list has reserved 19 flats for sitting or former MPs and MLAs, of which 13 apartments fall in the categories of EWS, LIG and MIG.
The criteria for falling in these income groups has been fixed on the basis of monthly income — up to Rs 25,000 for EWS, from Rs 25,001 to Rs 50,000 for LIG, from Rs 50,001 to Rs 75,000 for MIG and Rs 75,000 or above for Higher Income Group (HIG).
Reacting to Mhada’s announcement of keeping reservations for legislators in the economically weaker section, RTI activist Anil Galgali said he had immediately written a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also serves as the chairman of Mhada, to draw his attention. Mr Galgali said he was not against housing reservation for legislators, but objected to the fact that they are getting reservations in the EWS and LIG categories.
Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam also reacted sharply. “This is shameful. Flats meant for poor people are being reserved for MPs and MLAs. This government stands totally exposed. This should be rectified immediately,” he said.
Applications for Mhada flats, spread across the metropolis, will be available for sale from Thursday.
The name of allottees will be made public after a draw of lottery on August 10. Apartments built by Mhada are cheaper than those made by private developers and therefore there is large public interest in it.
