1.13 lakh sqm to be made available for low-cost housing at Powai

Around 1.13 lakh square metres of buildable area is likely to be made available for low- cost housing in the Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS), being developed by Hiranandani Developers at Powai.

Around 1.13 lakh square metres of buildable area is likely to be made available for low- cost housing in the Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS), being developed by Hiranandani Developers at Powai.

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The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority on Thursday submitted a report in the Bombay high court stating about 1,13,357 square metres of total buildable area was still available in the area of the scheme for affordable housing with planned development.

The report was submitted in accordance with the February 22 order of the division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and justice Roshan Dalvi passed on public interest litigations filed by social activist Medha Patkar and Mumbaiites Kamlakar Satve and Rajendra Thakkar.

MMRDA counsel Kiran Bagalia, on Thursday, informed the bench that though the civic body had sanctioned all plans, being the planning authority for PADS, it had informed MMRDA that two sectors included in the layout plan of the scheme did not exist. Clarifying that the report was not complete for want of information about the two sectors, Bagalia sought time to submit an additional report.

On February 22, the court held that the balance open area available should be utilised only for affordable housing.

Apart from restraining Hiranandani Developers from construction on available space in PADS without court permission, the bench also directed the commissioner, MMRDA, to prepare a detailed statement of total construction in the scheme, balance land available, number and area of tenements constructed and a list of their purchasers.