The Mumbai suburban administration has ordered the resumption of 6.75 acres of land in Kandivali West that was reserved for housing Mathadi workers, after finding that a cooperative housing society entered into a development rights agreement covering the land without the state government’s permission.
Mumbai Suburban Collector Saurabh Katiyar issued the order concerning the parcel in the Sahyadri Nagar area, according to a report by Loksatta, which said it had access to a copy of the order. The decision follows an inquiry into the proposed redevelopment of land originally leased for Mathadi workers’ housing.
The government had leased 27 acres and 34 gunthas in Kandivali West to the Cloth Market and Shops Board for 90 years. The principal condition attached to the land was that it be used to provide housing for Mathadi workers. Buildings were later constructed on 20 acres through the Vishal Sahyadri Nagar Cooperative Housing Society.
The reported order states that the society had permission to redevelop 20 acres, but entered into a development rights agreement with a developer for an additional 6.75 acres without obtaining the state’s approval. The administration treated this as a breach of the conditions governing the land and ordered that the additional parcel be taken back by the government.
The land has been the subject of repeated administrative action. The report said the suburban collector’s office had issued notices over alleged violations of the lease conditions, but received no response. Illegal structures had also been built on the open portion of around seven acres. These structures were demolished by the collector’s office, but the report said they were later rebuilt.
The state government subsequently approved the transfer of the land to the Vishal Sahyadri Cooperative Housing Society after cancelling irregularities, without accepting unearned income, according to the report. It also permitted 20 acres to be transferred on an ownership basis after payment of 10 per cent of the relevant amount. The society then appointed a developer for redevelopment, and the developer paid the amount due to the suburban collector’s office.
However, the developer entered into a development rights agreement with the society for redevelopment of the entire parcel. The arrangement was challenged by social activist Reji Abraham, who complained to the suburban collector. The issue was also raised in the state legislature. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had said that the additional land would be taken back if the allegations were found to be valid.
Following that assurance, the Kurla stamp district collector was asked to submit a report. The report received by the administration found that the development rights agreement for the 6.75-acre parcel had been executed without government permission. The cooperative society was asked to provide an explanation, but the report said it did not respond. The suburban collector subsequently issued the resumption order.
The order concerns the government’s action on the additional parcel; the report does not establish the final status of any future redevelopment proposal for the wider landholding. Loksatta said it was unable to contact the Vishal Sahyadri Cooperative Housing Society for its response.