SRA asks for declaration on builders’ links to banned firms

Wants to ensure no blacklisted developers work on redevelopment in Andheri

Mumbai:June 24, 2018. When Maharashtra Government upbeat with banning the plastic to protect the environment of the State and third largest city of the world, Mumbai, the slums of the maximum city covers itself to protect from the monsoon rain. The plastic waste in the slums also goes unaccounted and spills over the environment. It would be interesting to observe, how authorities handle this alarming situation. Here is the view of the Damu Nagar slum, which slowly moving into the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, reflects the grim situation of the plastic menace. It is estimated that nearly 20 million people lives in Mumbai slums, counted one among the biggest slum population in the world. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury.

The Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) has asked the developers participating in its ₹5,000-crore project in Andheri’s Annanagar, Vitthal-Rakhumai and Kasam Nagar slums, to furnish a declaration saying they are not joining hands with any blacklisted developers.

The Hindu had published a report on Saturday on the apparent backdoor entry of a blacklisted developer in the project.

Courting controversy

The project has attracted controversy for years after it was linked to the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam, currently being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. Former minister Chhagan Bhujbal was in jail for more than a year in connection with the scam and is now out on bail.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya, who was instrumental in ensuring the permanent exclusion of the previous developer, K.S. Chamankar Enterprises, from the redevelopment project on account of ‘corrupt practices’ in September last year, chose not to comment on the ongoing developments. “I would not like to comment on hypothetical situations. Everything within the SRA should and is happening as per the legal orders,” Mr. Somaiya told The Hindu .

Permanent exclusion

On September 15, 2017, Mr. Somaiya had written to the Additional Chief Secretary (Housing) seeking permanent disqualification of K.S. Chamankar Enterprises from the project based on investigations against them in the alleged scam.

Three applications

According to the documents available with The Hindu , LTR SSM Private Limited, a company formed by L&T Realty in association with SSM Realty LLP, has filed three applications to compete for the redevelopment of around 21,000 sq.m. land.

Saurabh Shailesh Mehta, one of the directors of this company, is the son of Shailesh Mehta, whose company Sunshine Builder & Developers was blacklisted in June 29, 2015. SSM Realty LLP had two directors, Saurabh Shailesh Mehta and Shailesh Mehta’s wife, Sangeeta.

An SRA official confirmed that LTR SSM Private Limited has filed three applications and is competing against five other construction companies for the project.