Maharashtra will be “slum-free” by 2022, that’s the ambitious plan of the state government in its new housing policy. In order to do that the government is actually proposing several changes to its slum rehabilitation policy – the first and foremost being its approach.
The government has admitted that its approach so far has failed and that only 10 percent of all slums in the Greater Mumbai region have been developed over the last 20 years.
As part of the first stage of rehabilitation, the SRA will conduct a comprehensive survey of all slums in the Greater Mumbai region within six months of the launch of its new policy.
Moreover, the SRA will plan its rehabilitation on the lines of town planning scheme and will follow a whole-city “all slums” approach – following a broad template instead of taking up standalone cases.
The government is also putting in place several measures to ensure that the rehabilitation process doesn’t get stalled at any stage. As part of it, if slum dwellers have accepted a redevelopment proposal, the SRA will urge them to appoint a developer within a year. If they are unable to do that, the SRA will launch competitive bids to appoint one. In case even that fails, the SRA is willing to provide viability gap funding for up to 40 percent of the project cost.
Also, there will be proposal to amend the Slum Act to provide for compulsory development within three years.
The Maharashtra government also plans to launch a scheme of rehabilitation for private developers in partnership or joint venture with MHADA.
A key aspect of this new housing policy is that the state is proposing to buy part of the salt pan lands on the outskirts of Mumbai for slum rehabilitation. The SRA is very keen on a 400-acre plot in Mulund East along the Eastern Express Highway. If indeed the government is able to get that land, it will give fillip to its plans.
However, policy has faced criticism that it does not include any plan for ineligible slum dwellers. Eligible slum dwellers are those who have their names on the voters list of 2000 and before.
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