Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has curtailed the powers of housing minister Prakash Mehta recently while overruling the objections of the landlords in the slum rehabilitation projects.
According to the sources in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), earlier while undertaking the SRA projects after obtaining the majority consent of tenants, if the landlords blocked a project by denying consent, the housing was entrusted with power to overrule it or acquire the land without the landlord's permission. However, a source on condition of anonymity has confirmed to DNA that this power will be only with the CEO of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority ( SRA) who is an IAS officer.
When DNA got in touch with Mehta, he claimed that he overruled the objections, adding that it was always the department who did the groundwork from preparing the file to administering the project. "It used to come to my table just for approval and subsequently issue the notifications. It was a mere formality," claimed Mehta. He said that in the last four years he had overturned only 44 of such decisions.
"Besides, I even did not conduct a hearing for these decisions. Therefore, it will be wrong to say that my power has been curtailed. Actually, it has decentralized to allow better and speedy decisions," reasoned Mehta while justifying his decisions.
Mehta said that as a minister, "We have to focus on the policy decisions and its proper implementation."
When asked Mehta whether this decision was taken to snub him in view of his controversial decision on MP Mill compound SRA project, "I am not bothered about it. I am sure it has been taken in a good faith," added Mehta.
Nawab Malik, NCP spokesperson said that in the MP Mills Compound, Mehta had blatantly violated the prescribed housing norms by giving windfall gain of Rs 500 crore to the developer. "As a minister, Mehta has lost his credibility. The Lokayukta is already probing his irregularities in this said SRA project. The truth will soon come out. After his powers being curtailed, Mehta should step down immediately," Malik said.
WHAT CHANGES
- Earlier while undertaking SRA projects after obtaining majority consent of tenants, if the landlords blocked a project, the housing ministry was entrusted with power to overrule it
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 "Prakash Mehta")
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