MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai announced on Thursday that there will be discussions with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers regarding the demand to include first-floor slum dwellers for rehabilitation under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) schemes in Mumbai.
State Assembly members raised concerns about long-term residents residing on the first floors of slum structures, stating that excluding them would hinder the efforts to achieve a slum-free Mumbai.
Under current regulations, only ground-floor structures are recognized and numbered for SRA project eligibility, Desai explained during the question hour. “If we are to consider changes, such as recognizing ‘one plus one’ structures, it will require discussions with the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers. Once we present the facts to them, the Urban Development Department, led by Dy CM Eknath Shinde, will proceed based on the directives received,” he stated.
Addressing worries about builders allegedly making agreements with first-floor occupants, Desai emphasized that such contracts are not legally enforceable if they contradict existing laws. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Agreements made in violation of the law are non-binding,” he remarked, adding that if any specific details are communicated to the government, the department would investigate further.
During the discussion, Speaker Rahul Narwekar instructed that members’ suggestions regarding the inclusion of first-floor residents be documented and forwarded to the government for consideration.
Desai assured that the government would relay the current situation and members’ opinions to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers, aiming to expedite the process.
