Why Are MHADA Houses Lying Vacant?

Over 10 per cent of the 9,018 homes listed under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development's (Mhada) low-cost housing scheme in Konkan is lying vacant. These homes, a part of the Low-Cost Housing Scheme 2018, was launched on July 18 and results of which were announced on August 25. The apartments under this scheme are located at Thane, Virar, Kalyan, Ambernath, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri areas.

Many of these homes fall under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) category and it was reported that among applicants were those who were had not registered under the housing scheme for low-income and economically weaker section group. Over 3,937 homes under this scheme for Konkan area are listed under the PMAY.

The number game

Shirdon Kalyan

*According to the report, only 28 people applied for 114 PMAY homes kept aside under the ST category.

*For 38 homes each listed under the MP/MLA category and the Mhada employees category had no takers.

*Only 25 state government employees applied for the scheme while the Mhada had kept aside 95 homes for this category.

*Of the 38 homes listed under the artist quota, only nine applications were received.

 Virar Bolinj

*Only 70 applicants filed their nomination for over 223 homes listed under the ST category.

*Only one Mhada employee and one MP/MLA showed interest as against 75 and 74 homes on offer, respectively.

*None filed an application for 93 homes listed under the freedom fighter category.

It has been observed that the special categories and the PMAY-listed homes have received a lukewarm response. While the Mhada ran various campaigns to ask PMAY-eligible applicants to register themselves under Central government’s scheme to avail of these homes, it doesn't seem to have made an impact as most of the applicants were not registered under the PMAY.

According to Mhada officials, these vacant homes will be made available in the future lottery.