Maha govt to provide SRA eligibility cards to slum dwellers

To expedite the implementation of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects, Maharashtra Government will embark on a drive from July 1 to provide eligibility/non-eligibility cards to slum dwellers in Mumbai.
Maharashtra Housing Minister Prakash Mehta told PTI that an estimated 52 per cent of the financial capital's total population lives in slums and about 60 lakh people live in 12 lakh slums here.
"The survey will take six months to complete. The eligible slums will be included in the SRA projects while those who are ineligible will be incorporated in the rental housing or affordable housing schemes," the minister said.
All original slum dwellers living in structures constructed before the cut off date of January 1, 2000 will be given the eligibility card.

While those who have purchased the hutments which are legally protected would also be provided the card after they furnish all required legal documents.
"Those who are not found eligible will be accommodated in the rental housing and affordable housing schemes. There are 1,200 SRA projects in the pipeline that have been pending for two to three years," Mehta said.

According to him, the state government also plans to lower the consent for starting an SRA project from 70 per cent to 50 per cent.
"Similarly, the developer for a particular project would be selected through a secret ballot of residents," he said.

Mehta also informed that the government was mulling over a proposal to include implementation of all housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, RAMAI, SHABRI, Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Nivara Yojana and Rajiv Awas Yojana under the housing department and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) can have the monitoring powers.
He said Indira Awas Yojana was under rural development ministry, RAMAI scheme was under special assistance department, SHABRI under tribal welfare while both schemes of Rajiv Awas were under the housing department.
"Bringing all the schemes together would help in expeditious implementation of all the projects," Mehta said.