MHADA to Sell 6,500 Khoni-Shirdhon Homes to Forest Department

Vacant MHADA Homes to Support Rehabilitation Near Kalyan-Dombivli

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is moving ahead with a plan to sell around 6,500 vacant homes in Khoni and Shirdhon to the Forest Department. The homes are expected to be used for the rehabilitation of eligible encroachers from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park area.

The Forest Department has formally communicated its decision to purchase the homes from the MHADA Konkan Board. Following this communication, the board has started the process required to transfer the housing stock. The sale is expected to generate approximately Rs 1,100 crore in revenue for the Konkan Board.

6,500 Homes Identified for Eligible Rehabilitation

The proposed rehabilitation focuses on eligible structures existing before January 1, 1995, according to reports on the plan. The homes are located in Khoni and Shirdhon, near Kalyan-Dombivli, and were originally developed under the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme.

The housing units had remained vacant despite being offered through MHADA's lottery process and later through a first-come, first-served system. Limited demand for homes at these locations contributed to the large number of unsold units.

The latest arrangement provides a way to put these completed homes to use while addressing the need for alternative housing for eligible families affected by the removal of encroachments from protected forest areas.

Forest Department Confirms Purchase Decision

Earlier, MHADA had offered the Khoni-Shirdhon homes to the Forest Department as a possible rehabilitation option. At that stage, the proposal was still awaiting a final decision. Recent reports now state that the Forest Department has formally communicated its decision to purchase the 6,500 homes, allowing the Konkan Board to begin the next steps.

The development follows discussions about how to use the vacant housing stock. The homes had also been considered as one possible option for mill workers, but mill worker organizations did not provide a positive response to the Khoni-Shirdhon locations. As a result, the Forest Department's proposal has moved forward.

Sanjeev Jaiswal Supports Housing-Focused Rehabilitation

MHADA Vice President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal is associated with the authority's efforts to address the use of vacant housing stock and support practical rehabilitation solutions. MHADA's official website lists Jaiswal as the authority's Vice President and Chief Executive Officer.

The proposed use of the 6,500 homes connects two important administrative needs: making productive use of completed but unsold housing units and creating alternative accommodation for eligible families affected by the encroachment removal process.

National Park Encroachment Remains a Major Challenge

Encroachment in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park has remained a long-standing issue. Reports have cited tens of thousands of structures in and around the protected area, while authorities have been examining rehabilitation options for eligible occupants.

Court proceedings have also addressed the removal of encroachments and the need for rehabilitation. Finding suitable ready-to-use housing has been one of the key challenges in moving the rehabilitation process forward.

The 6,500 Khoni-Shirdhon homes could now provide a ready housing option for a portion of the eligible beneficiaries.

MHADA Could Receive About Rs 1,100 Crore

The proposed transaction is expected to bring approximately Rs 1,100 crore to the MHADA Konkan Board. It would also help reduce the pressure created by a large inventory of vacant homes.

For MHADA, the arrangement provides a structured use for housing units that had faced difficulties in the regular sales process. For the Forest Department, the homes offer a potential rehabilitation resource as authorities work toward addressing encroachments in the national park.

The next steps will involve completing the administrative and financial process for transferring the homes to the Forest Department and determining the eligible beneficiaries under the applicable rehabilitation framework.