MHADA Mumbai

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The next time you enter the office of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) and any agent tries to woo you with a promise of getting a tenement, you can directly approach the vigilance department of the authority and help them catch the culprit.

Mhada, infamous for corrupt practices including favouring the builders and accepting bribes against allotments of flats, is now trying to salvage some pride by coming out openly against corruption.

Mhada has announced the sale of 3,863 tenements at 42 colonies in the city and suburbs through lottery system. While announcing this, the authority has made it clear that no middlemen will be allowed in the allotment process. "We have appointed HDFC bank for selling and submission of the application forms. People should not fall pray to any middleman who promises them to get a flat," said HK Jawale, Chief Officer of Mumbai Board.

When asked about such malpractices being common in the organisation, chief vigilance officer Jawahar Singh said, "We arrested our employee, Narendra Sharma, for false promises to people and handed him over to the Mumbai crime Branch last year. Last month, another trap was laid in Mhada canteen and two people, who claimed to be Mhada agents, were arrested. It is our appeal to the public to approach the vigilance department in such cases."

However, he said only 10 FIRs were registered last year.The process of sale of application will begin from January 12 and will go on till the month end. Forms will be available at 21 outlets of HDFC Bank. The highest rate has been quoted for the high- income group colony at Versova (926.24 sq. feet, 59 tenements, Rs56,46,000). The lowest rate quoted is for the economically weaker section tenements in Canara Engineering at Ghatkopar (295 tenements, 180.94 sq feet, Rs3,35,000.)