Mumbai, Dec 10 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Minister for Tourism, Shambhuraj Desai, who is currently overseeing the Housing Department during this Winter Session, announced on Wednesday that the state government will conduct a review of the redevelopment initiatives for aging buildings in Mumbai that have been on hold for 5 to 10 years.

He stated that if needed, measures will be implemented against the developers to expedite these projects. This announcement came in response to a calling attention motion presented by Shiv Sena-UBT legislator Ajay Chaudhary in the Assembly.

Minister Desai mentioned that the previous Guardian Minister had convened a meeting and proposed recommendations concerning the redevelopment of the slums at Jijamata Nagar and Kalachowki.

"Should the development not proceed per those recommendations, action will be initiated against him. Another meeting is scheduled to take place within the next month. Developers will receive a final opportunity following the review of the stalled redevelopment projects. If progress remains absent, steps will be taken to replace the developer," he elaborated.

In response to another motion raised by Shiv Sena legislator Mangesh Kudalkar and others, Minister Desai informed the Assembly that the state government has acquired a no-objection certificate from the Central Government for the redevelopment of slums located on railway land at Sable Nagar, Santoshi Mata Nagar, and Kranti Nagar in the Kurla division.

He disclosed to the Assembly that the enumeration of 1,241 huts on 3.87 acres of railway land in Kurla has been completed, along with the biometric collection of 1,188 huts. This process has adhered to the consent granted by the Railways for conducting the survey and biometrics.

Regarding the rehabilitation of the Gandhi Nagar-Indira Nagar locality in Mumbai, Minister Desai stated that if eligible slum dwellers meet the prescribed criteria and can provide written documentation, instructions for a re-survey will be issued.

Furthermore, he indicated that the Housing Department will request a report from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority concerning rehabilitation projects in Navi Mumbai. The department will reassess the inclusion of qualifying beneficiaries in the Project Affected Persons scheme.

Additionally, Minister Desai informed the Assembly that the Housing Department has mandated an investigation into the types of tenders being submitted at low rates for the renovation of old MHADA buildings.

Responding to a calling attention motion from congress legislator Amin Patel and others regarding the redevelopment of old buildings in South Mumbai, Minister Desai stated that the High Court has placed a stay on the notice issued by MHADA under Section 79A concerning the redevelopment of aging buildings in South Mumbai.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court to lift this stay, and MHADA's position is being vigorously defended. He added that the viability of redeveloping 81 buildings in Umarkhadi across two phases will be assessed.