India, June 14 -- After a 30-year stint with Mumbai police, Sayajirao Phadtare was compelled to move his family to Satara in 2015 as he had no place to call his own in the city. After participating in the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority's (Mhada) lottery in 1994, Phadtare, now 70, won a plot in Malvani, Malad, but has been fighting alongside 299 others for over 30 years to claim the space.

Despite a Supreme Court (SC) clearance, the 300 families, who were allotted the plots 32 years ago are yet to get permission to construct their houses, allegedly due to the high handedness of Mhada officials who, they say, are causing delays citing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.

"We will approach SC again next week with a plea...