MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Monday that a special investigation team (SIT) will be formed to investigate alleged irregularities in the implementation of the MHADA quota in Nashik, warning that those who deny the less fortunate their rightful homes will face consequences.
This decision follows reports of misconduct concerning the allocation of the 20% MHADA quota designated for economically weaker sections (EWS) and low-income groups (LIG) in Nashik.
Under the direction of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the SIT will be overseen by the Nashik divisional commissioner and will include senior state officials.
Bawankule stated, “Those who obstruct the rights of the poor and deny them their entitlements, regardless of their power, will not be overlooked.”
The SIT is expected to file its report within a month, as noted by the revenue minister.
The investigation will focus on plots larger than 4,000 square metres, where developers allegedly neglected to allocate the mandated 20% land or units for the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) as required by a notification dated November 8, 2013.
The SIT will also assess the recovery of the reserved lands in accordance with regulations, recommend disciplinary actions against any culpable officials, and suggest criminal charges against any landowners or developers found guilty of misconduct.
Additionally, they will propose strategies to prevent such violations in the future.
There have been allegations against several builders in Nashik for defrauding the government out of significant sums of money through forged documents, counterfeit seals, and signatures related to the MHADA housing initiative.
According to existing standards, developers of housing projects on plots exceeding 4,000 square metres must reserve 20% of units for MHADA. Allegedly, some developers under-reported project sizes to evade this requirement and misled authorities with falsified documents.
Verification efforts by the Land Records Department investigated 128 cases, uncovering fraud in 49 instances. A case has been filed at Sarkarwada police station based on a complaint from the department.
