Mumbai: With the BMC selection on the corner, political parties are wooing slums to choose from.
The State Housing Department has decided to enable beneficiaries of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project to sell plots provided to them within five years of their huts returned.
In addition, the residents of the slums that have emerged between 2000 and 2011 will be able to get a permanent house under the SRA scheme by paying Rs 2.5 lakh.
Times See the latest steps are populist by the state government ahead of the BMC poll and try to present squatting shrimp on public land.
Free housing scheme for Slumdweller, which took off 25 years ago, has failed to curb encroach in the city.
By letting families sell their free plots without a substantial waiting period, the state defeats the purpose of the scheme.
In the past, housing experts showed how many slum families sold their new plots and moved to other slums.
Also, pushing the cutoff date from 2000 to 2011 will lead to the construction of more slums.
This means, most beneficiaries will be able to sell their plots, with SRA permission, as soon as the construction is complete, officials said.
The SRA building requires an average of 36-52 months for completion, depending on the size of the scheme and the number of plots.
The recommendation of the housing department is now waiting for the country cabinet nod.
At present, Slumdwellers get a free house in the SRA scheme, but they cannot sell or rent it for 10 years.
If sold before the locking period, the state government has the right to the amount equivalent to stamp duty or RS 1 Lakh, which is higher.
Calling the decision of the State Housing Department “Diwali Prize from Maha Vikas Aghadi”, Department Minister Jitendra Awhad said: “Slumdwellers no longer need to wait for 10 years to sell their plots.
They can sell their plots five years after the slums are destroyed.
However, buyers and Home sellers will need SRA permission.
“Officials said that under the payment feasibility scheme, those who lived in slums built between 2000 and 2011 will get 300 square houses for Rs 2.5 lakh.
“There is a law that gives them feasibility, but the tariff is not fixed.
Now we have done it.
With this slum 80% will be borne in Mumbai,” Awhad said.
Political observer said this was another populist decision before the BMC poll.
“It seems that Shiv Sena and NCP experienced an understanding.
Most of the decisions taken by the housing department, run by NCP Awhad, will help Sena who has a big stock in the BMC poll,” said an observer.
Recommendations were made by the panel led by Awhad and consisted of Minister of Aaditya Thackeray, Varsha Gaikwad, Anil Puriab, Nawab Malik and Aslamh Shaikh.