Mill workers to get houses at Rs 8.34 lakh

Chavan had promised to implement a solution to the issue after Opposition parties led a morcha demanding free housing. The state government has relaxed clauses while allotting houses through MHADA for the mill workers.

The government has also agreed to a cut-off date of January 1982,when the mill workers should have been employed. Under the scheme,there is no restriction on the monthly income,and mill workers are eligible to get a house,even if they own a house in Mumbai.

Chavan said of the 6,948 houses constructed by MHADA on mill land,the cost of 170 houses in Kurla would be Rs 4.81 lakh each and the remaining Rs 8.34 lakh each.

“The government is committed to providing housing at a no profit,no loss basis to the mill workers. MHADA has incurred a cost of Rs 12.62 lakh,however after BSUP and cuts,the average cost of a house is Rs 8.34 lakh,” he said.

Under the scheme,the government has asked MHADA to begin a lottery process for each mill where houses have been constructed. It has also been told to provide data of applications received,cost of houses and lottery process on its website. The government said the scrutiny of applications of winners through the lottery process would be done through the labour department.

According to the government,it has received about 1.26 lakh applications from mill workers and 22,701 from their heirs so far. Of the 58 sick/ closed down mills,MHADA had acquired 9.12 hectares from 25 mills across 20 different locations .