02 August,2017 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra Jore
First-time legislators question why money is being wasted in giving rented accommodation to those who own houses here
A day after the ceiling collapsed in one of the rooms of the dilapidated Manora MLA hostel, leading the legislative secretariat to float an advertisement for 175 fully-furnished flats 450-550 sqft in area in the posh south and central Mumbai as alternative accommodation, first-time MLAs are questioning the need to fund homes for legislators who already have flats in the city.
Allotment conundrum
Questioning the presiding officers of both Houses and government, these first-time legislators, who don't own homes in the city, said many current and former legislators - a list of which has been compiled by the government - have bought flats in Mumbai at a concessional rate under the government quota or have their housing society on a government land. The legislators from Mumbai and Thane also own their own homes here, and thus, are benefitting from a skewed practice of rented allotments in hostels.
Also read: BJP MLA wants Adarsh housing society to be turned into temporary MLA hostel
Rental high
Considering the rates prevalent in these areas - chosen because legislators said on Monday in the Assembly that they won't travel from beyond Dadar - a flat of this size would cost R1-2 lakh a month, depending on the locality between Cuffe Parade in the South and Wadala and Dadar on either side of Central Mumbai. The secretariat wants the flats for two to three years.
"The government should try to save taxpayers' money by excluding legislators who have homes in the city. Most of them have bought homes at much lower rates under the CM's quota or built their housing societies on land leased for peanuts by the government. Why should they burden the government further?" a first-time BJP legislator asked.
Several legislators told mid-day that their senior colleagues from all parties have been making good money by renting out flats in Mumbai.
Also read: Police probe security lapses at MLA hostel after minor's rape
Other hostels
Another MLA suggested that legislators from Mumbai and Thane city should also be barred from the rented allotment and be asked to vacate their rooms in the Akashwani MLA Hostel (if they have any), which would be the only facility in operation once Manora shuts. Majestic Hostel near Regal Cinema is already closed for redevelopment. Another, Extension Hostel, has less than 10 rooms, given to former legislators on a visit to Mumbai.
Interestingly, the legislators wanted the government to accommodate them in hotels, but Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shot the suggestion down, saying hotels would not allow a continuous flow of visitors to their rooms.
