Amid the state government’s push for opening up thousands of acres of salt pan land in the city for affordable housing, it has emerged that its development arm MMRDA has strongly advocated any form of construction on these lands.

The classic situation of one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing turned ironical last week when the government asked the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to prepare a plan on its stand for a presentation to the Centre.

Time and again, the Devendra Fadnavis government has made clear its intention to free up 2,177 hectares, about 5,400 acres, to make way for low-cost homes and rehabilitation of project affected people. ... According to the state government’s estimates, out of 2,177 hectares of salt pan land, 360 hectares will be available for housing projects, 460 hectares are encroached upon and 700 hectares face coastal regulatory zone restrictions. The remaining area is embroiled in legal dispute over ownership and lease.

The state wants the Centre to agree to share the land in 50:50 ratio. The state says it would use its share to rehabilitate project affected people and build affordable homes. It also wants that the Centre’s share be used for rehabilitation of slum dwellers who are squatting on space belonging to the railways, Mumbai Port Trust among others.

While real estate industry has welcomed the move, environmentalists say it will prove disastrous for the city.