Mumbai: Mumbai MLA Raj K Purohit demanded on Tuesday that tenants of old buildings should get a house of 500 square feet in redevelopment and the government has to consider this in the new housing policy.

In Mumbai and other cities like Pune, Aurangabad and Nashik, a large number of people have been living in old buildings as tenants under the ‘pagdi’ system for decades. It means the landlord is owner of the property, but possession of the property lies with tenants. These properties are covered under the Rent Control Act and have minimal rents.

The State government formed a committee to study the possibility of granting ownership rights to tenants living under the old ‘pagdi’ system. Purohit is one member of the committee. Housing Minister Prakash Mehta is chairman of the committee.

“I wrote a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the tenants should get minimum 500 square feet house after redevelopment of old buildings,” Purohit said.

Referring to the dilapidated conditions of these buildings, Purohit said the government to issue an ordinance to this effect.