After a delay of over 12 years in rehabilitation of nearly 900 slum dwellers residing in Indira Nagar, at Jogeshwari East, in North-West Mumbai, the Minister of State for Housing, Ravindra Waikar, has instructed the officers of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to replace the existing developer with immediate effect and ensure that the stalled work is completed expeditiously.
A group of three developers without any experience and know-how of building construction, had got the plan to rehabilitate 987 slum dwellers approved from the SRA, a decade back. Out of the total dwellers located at Indira Nagar, 872 dwellers were eligible for rehabilitation, while the documents of remaining dwellers were not clear. In addition another 466 dwellers were residing on the same plot without any proof of residence.
“A person named Taiwala submitted a proposal to the SRA to construct the buildings on the same plot to rehabilitate the dwellers. Soon two more persons joined him. Eventually, the triumvirate constructed two buildings and willy-nilly accommodated 377 dwellers. But the construction was so wretched that the plaster of the walls began peeling off making the condition of the dwellers worst,” Corporator and Chairman of the K East ward committee, Anant Nar, told Afternoon D&C.;
“No basic amenities including regular supply of water, were provided. The dwellers who had temporarily shifted elsewhere, pending completion of the project, were also not given the house rent for the period of their temporary shift. These developers also did not clear various taxes due to the BMC and the state government. Further, they refused to provide the tenements of 269 metres, the stipulated size of the dwelling under SRS norms. Eventually the dwellers approached Waikar to seek justice,” Nar added.
On Wednesday, Waikar held a special meeting and instructed SRA officers to issue a notice to the developer stating that the SRA’s agreement with him is rescinded. The new developer will be appointed in his place and pending completion of the rehabilitation afresh, the existing two buildings, constructed by these developers, will be used as transit camp so that the dwellers are not forced to shift to a far off place again.
Meanwhile, Waikar also asked SRA officers to assess the possibility of 115 dwellers who were not made eligible under the rehabilitation scheme, within 15 days, and asked them to submit a fresh proposal for providing 269 square metres house to each dweller. The meeting was attended by SRA officers, corporator and others.