Mumbai: The BJP is worried about a backlash from tenants over the proposed changes in the Rent Control Act and has decided to reach out to them to convince them that it is with them.
BJP leader Shaina N C, state BJP chief Raosaheb Patil Danve and other leaders met representatives of the tenants and merchant associations at the party's Nariman Point office.
City BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty said, “We heard the tenants' concern and will take up the issue with the CM.“
But the representatives were not completely satisfied with the leaders' assurances. “If the government is serious, it should scrap the proposal. They can allow landlords to take maintenance from us while repairing buildings. By increasing rents, the state is favouring the landlords,“ said Ashok Sharma, Chembur merchant association.
The BJP-led government has sought to make changes in the draft housing policy and give a “more reasonable“ rent to landlords as rents, especially in the island city , are abysmally lower than the market rate.
The city Congress had recently come in support of tenants and alleged that the BJP-led government is trying to help builders by modifying the Act.
Shaina N C demanded that Mhada's building repair and reconstruction board be scrapped.“Increasing rent in old south Mumbai buildings will not help, as these 19,000 dilapidated structures are nearly a century old.These buildings should be redeveloped or reconstructed and not repaired.“ She also suggested that after redevelopment, tenants should own their flats and maintain them. --Vijay V Singh & Sujit Mahamulkar
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