An estimated 3,000 families in Kandivali and Malad can heave a sigh of relief as the Maharashtra government is firm on its stand to tweak the Ministry of Defence’s norms for allowing redevelopment activity around one of its installations in the city. The State government has decided to issue a government resolution (GR) that will lift the virtual ban on redevelopment of housing societies around the sprawling Central Ordnance Depot in Kandivali East.
In 2011, the defence ministry issued two circulars in wake of the Adarsh society imbroglio which made permission from the local military authority mandatory for any construction activity within the 500-meter radius of the depot. Following this notification, 43 redevelopment projects are stuck in various stages waiting for a no-objection certificate from the military, and residents of these housing societies, who vacated their homes for redevelopment some years ago, face an uncertain future.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Yogesh Sagar said, “The State government has consulted the advocate general in this matter and we are firm in our stand that the defence circular must be withdrawn as there is no security risk. The government will soon issue a GR on this.”