MHADA case: NMC starts process to cancel 26 tentative layouts

Nashik: The civic body has begun proceedings to cancel 26 tentative layouts in the first phase of action linked to the MHADA housing scam, following the booking of 197 people by the police and the launch of a probe by a state-appointed special investigation team.Officials from the town planning department of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) said the move was initiated after the land records survey department reported that the tentative layout maps were not found in the official base maps maintained by the department. "We have started the process, and all 26 tentative layouts will be cancelled within the next two to three days. A consolidated order will be issued thereafter," an NMC official said.The civic body had recently completed hearings of 169 landowners and developers accused of violating mandatory Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing norms. The hearings, conducted by the town planning department, were part of an inquiry into alleged breaches of the rule requiring 20% EWS housing in projects exceeding 4,000 sq metres.Last month, the Sarkarwada police registered cheating cases against over 150 landowners and developers for allegedly bypassing EWS housing requirements. The FIR followed a complaint by an official of the land records department after an inquiry by the additional district collector found violations of the state housing policies of 2013 and 2017, which mandate allotment of reserved housing units to eligible beneficiaries through MHADA.