MUMBAI: More than 15 years after they left their homes on the promise of bigger and better flats, 640 of the 672 families of Patra Chawl will finally return home.
Patra Chawl in Siddharth Nagar, Goregaon West, a 47-acre Mhada layout, became embroiled in a land scam and political controversies. A redevelopment scheme resulted in Mhada land being sold to nine other developers. Guru Ashish Construction (GAC), a subsidiary of HDIL, was appointed as the developer to redevelop Patra Chawl. HDIL took a loan of Rs 6,700 crore from the PMC Cooperative Bank. However, a huge sum of money accounting for Rs 2,700 crore was allegedly laundered, which ultimately led to the collapse of the bank.
GAC sold the Mhada land to nine other developers for Rs 901.79 crore without the authority’s approval. Besides this, GAC also launched a project called Meadows and took a booking amount of approximately Rs 138 crore from flat buyers. The total proceeds of crime were estimated at Rs 1,039.79 crore. A sum of Rs 100 crore was allegedly transferred to Pravin Raut, the former director of GAC. The ED arrested Raut in Feb. This money was allegedly then distributed by Raut to his close aides, which included Varsha Raut, wife of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. Sanjay Raut was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the matter in 2022.In 2021, the MVA govt stepped in and directed Mhada to take over the redevelopment of Patra Chawl to hand over the new flats to the Patra Chawl tenants and 306 citizens who won allotments of the sale flats. The tenants will each get a 650 sq ft carpet flat with a 117 sq ft balcony.
“After such a huge struggle, we just want our home,” said Rajesh Dalwi, chairman, Patra Chawl CHS. Dalwi explained that for now, 640 families will be allotted the flats as, in the other cases, disputes with families are yet to be settled. “We have requested Mhada to hold onto these flats and allot them after disputes are resolved.’
On February 23, the society has called a special general body meeting where lots will be drawn and the flats allotted in the presence of MHADA officials. A formal function for handing over the keys will be held towards the month’s end, wherein both CM Devendra Fadnavis and Dy CM Eknath Shinde are expected to be present.
Dalwi said MHADA has paid them a rent of Rs 25,000 since 2018, and this will continue till March end.
Mumbai: More than 15 years after they left their homes on the promise of bigger and better flats, 640 of the 672 families of Patra Chawl will finally return home.
Patra Chawl in Siddharth Nagar, Goregaon West, a 47-acre Mhada layout, became embroiled in a land scam and political controversies. A redevelopment scheme resulted in Mhada land being sold to nine other developers. Guru Ashish Construction (GAC), a subsidiary of HDIL, was appointed as the developer to redevelop Patra Chawl. HDIL took a loan of Rs 6,700 crore from the PMC Cooperative Bank. However, a huge sum of money accounting for Rs 2,700 crore was allegedly laundered, which ultimately led to the collapse of the bank.
GAC sold the Mhada land to nine other developers for Rs 901.79 crore without the authority’s approval. Besides this, GAC also launched a project called Meadows and took a booking amount of approximately Rs 138 crore from flat buyers. The total proceeds of crime were estimated at Rs 1,039.79 crore. A sum of Rs 100 crore was allegedly transferred to Pravin Raut, the former director of GAC. The ED arrested Raut in Feb. This money was allegedly then distributed by Raut to his close aides, which included Varsha Raut, wife of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. Sanjay Raut was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the matter in 2022.
In 2021, the MVA govt stepped in and directed Mhada to take over the redevelopment of Patra Chawl to hand over the new flats to the Patra Chawl tenants and 306 citizens who won allotments of the sale flats. The tenants will each get a 650 sq ft carpet flat with a 117 sq ft balcony.
“After such a huge struggle, we just want our home,” said Rajesh Dalwi, chairman, Patra Chawl CHS. Dalwi explained that for now, 640 families will be allotted the flats as, in the other cases, disputes with families are yet to be settled. “We have requested Mhada to hold onto these flats and allot them after disputes are resolved.’
On February 23, the society has called a special general body meeting where lots will be drawn and the flats allotted in the presence of MHADA officials. A formal function for handing over the keys will be held towards the month’s end, wherein both CM Devendra Fadnavis and Dy CM Eknath Shinde are expected to be present.
Dalwi said MHADA has paid them a rent of Rs 25,000 since 2018, and this will continue till March end.
