Air Forces drags MHADA to court for encroachment

The Air Force has dragged Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA), entrusted with the job of tackling encroachments, to the court for allegedly encroaching on their land.

The Air Force has dragged Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA), entrusted with the job of tackling encroachments, to the court for allegedly encroaching on their land.

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The Air Force has filed a suit in a city Civil Court alleging that MHADA has usurped over 50 per cent of its 12.2-acre strip of land in suburban Santacruz, which was originally earmarked for a rifle range.

"The MHADA has approved annexure - II (eligibility list) for the slum scheme as the land owning authority. However, the land has been in the possession of Air Force since 1964," advocates Suresh Rajguru, appearing for Air Force, told PTI.

No correspondence is available either with the Air Force or MHADA to show a land transfer in the housing authority's name, he said.

Out of the total area, 6.22 acre has been transferred to MHADA, Rajguru said, adding, "Four years ago, Shivalik Ventures got the rights to develop the land through Slum Rehabilitation Scheme, which includes rehabilitation of over 26,000 slum dwellers."