Nagpur, Dec 13 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Minister of State for Housing, Pankaj Bhoyar, revealed on Saturday that the corpus fund designated for housing redevelopment initiatives in Mumbai, managed by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), will see an increase linked to the height of the buildings.

This initiative, he explained, seeks to enhance housing quality and essential amenities for the residents of the city. The minister responded to an inquiry from BJP legislator Atul Bhatkhalkar during the Assembly.

Minister Bhoyar noted that previously, a corpus fund of merely Rs 40,000 per flat was allocated in SRA and MHADA redevelopment projects. However, this sum was deemed inadequate for actual maintenance and operational costs. Consequently, the government formed a committee to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Following the committee's suggestions, the government has approved a plan to amend the corpus fund structure based on building height. Under this new framework, the corpus fund will be raised to Rs 1 lakh per flat for buildings up to 70 metres, Rs 2 lakh for buildings between 70 and 120 metres, and Rs 3 lakh for those exceeding 120 metres.

The minister confirmed that a notification regarding this modification has been issued under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. He added that the process for addressing objections and suggestions is nearing completion, and the updated corpus fund regulations will soon be enforced by the SRA and the state administration.

Additionally, Minister Bhoyar announced further initiatives to encourage green energy. He stated that developers must now install solar panels in redevelopment projects prior to obtaining an Occupation Certificate (OC). He cautioned that strict measures will be taken against developers who hand over flats without securing an OC.

"If possession is granted without an OC for incomplete buildings, a comprehensive investigation will be initiated, and a list of such cases will be compiled. Action will be taken against all future instances of possession being given without an OC,” the minister informed the assembly.

In another matter, Minister of State Madhuri Misal assured the Assembly that a detailed investigation would be conducted regarding the felling of 70-year-old trees along a road next to the municipality in Rajura, Chandrapur district. This was in response to a calling attention motion presented by legislator Devram Bhongale.

Minister Misal stated that it has come to light that a 70-year-old tree was cut down based on verbal instructions, without any formal permission. She mentioned that nearly the entire tree was removed under the pretense of pruning branches, and initially, no action was taken. However, following complaints from legislators, punitive measures have now been initiated against those accountable.

In this case, the contractor involved has been directed to plant new trees equivalent to the number of 70-year-old trees that were removed and to care for them for seven years. The contractor has also been blacklisted, and a report has been filed against him at the Rajura police station.