As the Maharashtra government assigned Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to prepare a Master Plan to unlock the salt pan land in the MMR, initial report suggests that only 20% of the total 2,177 hectares of land is likely to be open for development.

Last week, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh directed the state government to prepare the Master Plan to construct low-cost housing.

According to the state’s preliminary report, the area available for affordable housing is not likely to go beyond 435 hectares. “Our reports indicate that only 20% of the total salt pan land will be available for housing, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A senior government official added that there are parts which come under CRZ-II, mangroves, legal disputes and private ownership, making them unavailable for development.

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Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena is likely to throw spanner in the works for the opening of salt pan land. Former Mumbai Mayor and Sena legislator Sunil Prabhu has written a letter to Fadnavis on Tuesday, asking him to stop the sale of salt pan land. In his letter, Prabhu said that “land mafia” from within the government are pushing for the opening of city’s vacant salt pans to builders. Prabhu also stated that the opening of salt pan land would affect the environment.