Tale of sexagenarian, who says getting a MHADA flat is the only achievement of her life, is just one of many of joy and heartbreak after yesterday's lottery
Tale of sexagenarian, who says getting a MHADA flat is the only achievement of her life, is just one of many of joy and heartbreak after yesterday's lottery
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PROSPECTIVE flat buyers who are in MHADA's waiting list have reason to smile because the Authority plans to give out 64 unsold flats from the MLA/MP quota to those in the general and other quotas after yesterday's lottery.
MHADA could give out only 3,849 of the 4,034 flats yesterday because 80 houses are under the Chief Minister's quota, there is a stay on 40 because the High Court is hearing a petition for a quota for the visually and physically challenged and there were very few applicants for the 78 houses under the MLA/MP quota.
Usha Naik, who was admitted to a hospital in Kalwa, rushed to Rangsharda after hearing that the lottery results were being declared
1.5 lakh people had applied for the 4,034 flats and the results were announced at Rangsharda, Bandra (West) yesterday.
While the lottery results brought cheer to many who have been waiting to own a flat for years, it also left many more despondent.
A home after 50 years...
Usha Naik, a sexagenarian who has been staying in a rented apartment for the last 50 years, rushed from her hospital in Kalwa to Rangsharda yesterday after hearing that the lottery results were being declared.
"I was admitted to the hospital after complaining of minor chest pain and rushed to Bandra the moment I was told about the lottery.
My son and daughter-in-law suffer from polio, and thus, I had to do all the running around. It was all worth it, however, when I came to know that my son had got a flat in Malwani," said Naik.
"I was speechless on hearing the news. I have stayed in a rented house for the last 50 years. This is the only achievement of my life," she added.
1 out of 69!
Makrand Dagadkhair, who has been applying for a MHADA house for the last three years without success, decided to leave as little to luck as possible this year. He made all the members of his joint family fill forms in every scheme to ensure that he lands at least one flat.
"I stay in a joint family, so each member filled as many forms as they could and the total came to 69. I heard yesterday that we are getting a flat and I am really happy. I've been u00a0living in Mumbai for 25 years and did not have a place I could call my own."
Heartbreak
Shanta and Sambhaji u00a0Mahadik did not get a flat despite filling five forms. "We thought that we'd stand a good chance if we filled more forms, but that didn't happen. I'm heartbroken.
u00a0
Many people u00a0say that the lottery is rigged, but they have no proof and hence, I don't believe them," said Shanta. An optimistic Amita Bhivankar, who also failed to get a flat, said, "There's always next year." 
Amol with wife Sunita Takale
Wedding gift!
Amol Takale, who got married three months ago and lives in Titwala, said, "This is the best gift I could have ever got. I always wanted to stay in a house that I owned in Mumbai. My wife, Sunita, was ecstatic when I gave her the news."
Joy of city
Joy was also evident on the face of Sunil Patil, a MHADA employee, who travels to Mumbai from Pen, nearly 100 km from the city, every day. "I used to waste 6 hours on travelling every day. This house will solve many of u00a0my problems and life will u00a0be a lot smoother now," said Patil.
More flats
Rumours of the next MHADA lottery taking place only after three years were laid to rest by the Authority's Chairman Amarjit Singh Manhas.
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"2,229 flats are already under construction and many more will be added to the list. The lottery will take place next May and flats will be available in Shailendra Nagar, Pratiksha Nagar, Powai, Malwani and other areas," he said.
Manhas also said that all those who did not get flats will get their deposits refunded within five days. "With the Electronic Clearing System in place, we will be able to refund the money within five days from today (Tuesday)," he said.
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