Developers grab 34 PAP tenements

Even as city’s development projects are being delayed due to the shortage of tenements to house project affected persons (PAP), the BMC has allowed houses earmarked for their rehabilitation to be illegally occupied by developers.

An inspection carried out by the estate department of the BMC has revealed that at least 34 PAP tenements have been illegally occupied.

Now, it has decided to file a complaint of criminal breach of trust against seven developers, some of whom are prominent names in the construction industry. But it is yet to initiate any action against its own errant officials.

To begin with, the developers were allowed to undertake development on lands reserved for ‘public housing’ and ‘housing for the dishoused’. To top it, the developers flouted the condition that 10 per cent of tenements, measuring 180 sq ft/ 225 sq ft each, be handed to BMC after construction.