Maharashtra govt housing body grabbed our land: Air Force

The Indian Air Force has alleged that Mhada, the state housing board, has grabbed 49,000 sq m defence land here.The Air Force says Mhada manipulated property records to take over nearly 49,000 sq m of defence land at the Rifle Range in Golibar area of suburban Santacruz.Six buildings have also come up on the land under the slum rehabilitation scheme, it said.The land (survey No 13/CTS 387) is located close to an IAF installation.

The Cotton Green-based 411 Air Force station has claimed that the land was part of 2.49 lakh sq m of military land, which had been in its possession since May 8, 1964.An official at the 411 Air Force station, alleged Mhada allowed a private developer to illegally set up multi-storied apartments on the land without procuring a no-objection certificate from the Air Force.When contacted a Mhada official declined to comment on the IAF's allegations.