What nullifying pagadi system would mean for non-elite class from SoBo

If the state government introduces its controversial amendment to the existing Maharashtra Rent Control Act 1999 to get rid of the unauthorised pagadi system then an exodus of the nonelite class from South Mumbai is guaranteedThe amendment means that tenants occupying residential units above 847 sq ft will have to pay 250 times the existing rent Similarly the rent for a commercial unit measuring 540 sq ft will shoot up by a whopping 500 timesVoices of dissent are being raised from all sectors of the society including the political class accusing the BJPled state government of favouring the builder and landlord lobbyAlso Read Rents to go high for South Mumbai pugree residentsmidday spoke to Congress leader Milind Deora and Shiv Senarsquos Pandurang Sakpal from South Mumbai to gauge their reaction on the amendment and this is what they saidA 300fold hike in rent is ridiculousFor the second time the BJP government has tried to introduce the amendment within a yearrsquos span This ascertains that it has ulterior motives They are trying to burden the common man and we Congress wonrsquot allow this to happen A debate on whether the rent should be hiked or not is a must But a 300fold hike is ridiculousMilind DeoraDuring my tenure as an MP from South Mumbai I intervened and ensured that such arbitrary proposals were shot down This happened at a time when we were in power Have apprised the party high command about the issue and will involve both Gandhis to stall the proposal should the need ariseRead Story Renting a flat in Mumbai Get police verification done via courierThere is a misconception that every SoBoite is rich Several tenants who inherited the apartments from their fathers and forefathers belong to lower and middleincome groups This government isnrsquot interested in protecting tenants the way we used to It wants to favour the builder lobby A huge chunk of the tenant population in SoBo comprises of senior citizens who will be displaced upon introduction of the amendment If the state is proposing an amendment it should take people into confidence first It must also consider the ramifications of such amendments rather than brazenly implementing it mdash Milind Deora former MP and union minister CongressMiddleclass canrsquot even afford KalyanThough we Shiv Sena arenrsquot against hiking the rent but will never support such kind of hasty and whimsical decisions While rent hike for larger houses should be reasonable those occupying dwellings smaller than 500 sq ft shouldnrsquot be burdened at allPandurang SakpalWe have categorically stated that the amendment is a way to throw our people not just out of Mumbai but even beyond its outskirts Most tenants residing in South Mumbai are occupants of chawls and old buildings How will those who earn on daytodaybasis or little will pay the exorbitant rent This amendment is nothing but a systematic displacement of the poor and the middleclass We wonrsquot let this happenAlso Read Even the Brits cant afford high Mumbai rentsBy planning to amend the rent act the BJPgovernment is placating the builder lobby Protest by its members against the recently introduced open space policy was just hogwash The government has hidden agendasOur top leadership and elected public representatives are aware of the development and are ready to fight tooth and nail until the amendment is scrapped With prices of essential commodities skyrocketing where will the common man gomdash Pandurang Sakpal Shiv Sena Vibhag adhyaksha South Mumbai