Mumbai: Builder told to stop work for not paying rent

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) last week issued stop-work notice to a developer in Bandra for alleged non-payment of rent to a slum-dweller. The notice was issued over Jai Shivsai SRA cooperative housing society, located in Bandra East.

The shanty of Omkarnath Mishra, who signed a redevelopment agreement with GM Constructions in 2003, was allegedly razed in 2007 for the project. But till 2013, Mishra claimed, he didn't get the rent the builder agreed to pay him. The builder did pay him rent between 2013 till May 2015, then stopped again, he said.

"After we stopped receiving rent again, a complaint was filed with SRA in November 2017. During the hearing, the builder said the shanty was still intact but an inspection showed it had been demolished. In April 2018, the developer was asked to pay rent for the period he hadn't paid the rent," said Prakash Mishra, the complainant's son. He further said a second complaint was lodged on May 15, following which on May 17, the authority ruled in their favour.

Pankaj Ghag of GM Constructions said all slum-dwellers had been paid rent, and refused to entertain further questions.