Maharashtra Govt keen on takeover of Mumbai Port’s land for welfare schemes

Maharashtra Government is positive about development of part of Salt pan land and Mumbai Port Trust land to provide housing under various schemes such as slum rehabilitation scheme and Prime Minister Awas Yojana, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavias said. 

State government, he said is positive on development of Port Trust land in Mumbai. “During my tenure as chief minister, I had taken a meeting to discuss appointing Mumbai Port Trust as a planning authority.

Later, the state government appointed the three-member committee to think on this issue. Two members expressed their view in favor of appointing MBPT as a planning authority and third member questioned if it is possible to do so,” said Fadnavis.  The chief minister will soon take a decision on the report of this three-member committee.

For such a policy decision all party consensus is important.

Replying to a question in the legislative council on March 2nd, Fadnavis urged for an all-party consensus on the issue and also indicated that the government would take some positive decisions on both the issues.

Fadnavis, who also heads housing department, said that the government is trying to resolve the issue of redevelopment of slums on defense land in Mumbai and is pursuing the matter with the Central government and a positive decision about redevelopment of 9,428 slums of that area, is expected in a few months.

Speaking on various issues causing delay in the rehabilitation project, Mr.Fadnavis expressed the need for policy decisions on the development of various types of land in Mumbai. “If we don’t use all types of lands available in Mumbai, we will not be able to implement the Prime Minister Awas Yojna successfully. Salt pan land development is important. All Salt pan lands are not natural but some are buildable. We will have to use this buildable salt pan land for providing housing to all slum holders.” said Mr.Fadnavis.

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