Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking urgent intervention for residents living in old and structurally vulnerable buildings across Mumbai ahead of the monsoon season.
In his letter sent on Friday, Thackeray raised concerns regarding the long-pending redevelopment of cess and non-cess buildings in the city and highlighted the difficulties faced by tenants residing in ageing structures operating under the pagdi system.
He stated that redevelopment provisions under Rules 79-A(1)(a) and 79-A(1)(b) were introduced during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to accelerate redevelopment of old cess buildings. However, according to him, the matter has remained stuck in court proceedings for the last two years, affecting nearly 14,000 buildings and lakhs of residents across Mumbai.
Sharing the letter on X, Thackeray said he was reminding the state government about the urgent need to release funds for repair and redevelopment work related to old buildings before the onset of heavy rains.
“Urging that funds be made immediately available before the upcoming monsoon season for the repair and maintenance of these buildings under the Chief Minister’s special powers,” Aaditya wrote on X.
In the letter, Thackeray also expressed hope that both the state and central governments would work together to ensure justice and protection for tenants residing in deteriorating buildings.
He placed four key demands before the government, including a special drive for proper tenant registration, protection of tenants from alleged harassment and eviction by landlords, immediate allocation of repair funds for unsafe structures, and direct intervention in the pending court matter related to redevelopment.
Thackeray further pointed out that problems faced by residents of cess buildings in south Mumbai are now increasingly affecting tenants in non-cess buildings across suburban areas as well.
He emphasised the need for emergency financial assistance through the Chief Minister’s special powers, stating that many ageing and damaged structures urgently require repairs to ensure resident safety during the upcoming monsoon season.
Source: Mid-day
