The proposal follows the recent collapse of a portion of a building built by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) at Kala Chowkie. In a letter to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, he pointed out that if extra Floor Space Index (FSI) is allotted to these old buildings, it would encourage the occupants to get their buildings conveyed and provide the necessary incentive for them to carry out repairs and reconstruction.

The recent collapse had brought to light the vulnerability of the large number of occupants of similar MHADA built colonies in Mumbai, he informed. MHADA, since its inception has built around 65 large colonies throughout the city and suburbs. These include KannamwarNagar at Vikhroli, Pant Nagarat at Ghatkopar, Nehru Nagar at Kurla, Tagore Nagar, D N Nagar, Subhash Nagar, Tilak Nagar and Sardar Nagar. Most of these were built around the year 1960 and in a dismal state of disrepair.

Further, only about 45 per cent of the buildings have been conveyed since MHADA announced its scheme of handing over the buildings on an ownership basis in 1981. The tardy rate of conveyance continues even after a special conveyance cell was set up before a few years.

An innovative plan of weekly meetings with the cooperative housing societies since May this year has also failed to boost the process. Moreover, with MHADA practically having stopped carrying out repairs since the mid '80s, the majority middle class residents add that life has become a living hell.

Nerurkar pointed out that the occupants were against the ownership scheme as they first want their buildings along with the drainage and water pipelines repaired. He urged the chief minister to take note of the increasing numberof slab collapses in these buildings which have become unfailingly regular these days.