ULHASNAGAR: A major controversy erupted in Ulhasnagar over the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) project, under which 3,500 houses are proposed to be constructed for Rs 723 crore. While a local Shiv Sena neta credited the party’s MP for bringing the project to the city, former Shiv Sena city president and senior ex-corporator Bhullar Maharaj-also from the same party-raised serious objections, alleging multiple irregularities in the planning and land selection process.Bhullar claimed that the land identified for the project neither underwent the mandatory reservation change nor was it legally transferred to the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC). He argued that launching such a massive project without regularising the land papers could lead to major legal complications in the future. Bhullar filed a petition in court demanding that the project be halted until all documentation and reservation procedures are completed in accordance with the rules. The matter intensified after UMC recently floated the tender for constructing houses in Santosh Nagar (Ulhasnagar-4) and Prem Tekdi (Ulhasnagar-5). According to Bhullar, under PMAY guidelines, the project can only be developed on plots categorised as Residential, Commercial, or Industrial. However, the land chosen by UMC is currently reserved for health facilities, educational institutions, and recreational uses. Adding to the controversy, a large portion of the Prem Tekdi plot is reportedly under the possession of a private individual, for which the Town Planning Department already issued building permission.Meanwhile, the BJP sharply criticised Bhullar’s position, accusing him of obstructing a housing project intended for the poor. BJP district president Rajesh Wadharya, in a press conference, said that while some Shiv Sena netas are busy claiming credit for the project, one of their own senior functionaries is simultaneously trying to block it in court.
