Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday came down heavily on Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner U.P.S.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday came down heavily on Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner U.P.S. Madan over allegations that the authority’s officials were involved in illegal construction and extortion.
On Friday, Mr Fadnavis conducted a meeting of the MMRDA planning committee where several elected local representatives (corporators) from Thane, Ulhasnagar and Kalyan-Dombivali were present. Several corporators complained to the chief minister about MMRDA officials in nexus with builders allowing illegal construction the MMRDA’s name.
A MMRDA official, who was present in the meeting, said, “Allegations were made by a few corporators that MMRDA officials would allegedly visit illegal structures after they were constructed and extort money from buyers who had purchased flats and shops in them.”
Govind Raut, Shiv Sena corporator from Bhiwandi, said, “I have been writing letters to Mr Madan from the past two years, but he did not pay any heed. In the name of growth centres, MMRDA officials, in nexus with developers, are constructing towers where innocent buyers take loan to find that their buildings are illegal and will be demolished. I have conveyed my message to Mr Fadnavis and he has assured that action will be taken against those found guilty.”
Furthermore, after noting the complaints of the corporators, Mr Fadnavis directed Mr Madan who was also present in the meeting, to probe on the allegations and take strict action after identifying the officials who are involved in such activities.
The MMRDA has an ambitious plan to develop growth centres in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) Vasai, Panvel and Kharbao near Bhiwandi. It also plans to develop logistics hubs and affordable housing in these areas and set aside 10 per cent of the total land for affordable homes for weaker sections of society.
When contacted Mr Madan, wrote back in a text message, “The allegations made were that some people pretending to be MMRDA officials extort money from those who construct unauthorisedly (sic). However, we will try to find out who they are.
