MUMBAI: The state government has initiated an amnesty scheme aimed at regularizing buildings lacking an Occupancy Certificate (OC). In response, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has issued notices to over 200 buildings citywide that have not obtained an OC but have been allocated to eligible slum dwellers.
According to SRA data, there are 219 SRA rehabilitation unit buildings without an OC across the city’s 24 administrative wards. Consequently, the slum dwellers residing in these buildings are denied corpus funds for maintenance, and developers often pressure them to occupy the units before an OC is acquired to avoid paying rent, officials have noted.
SRA CEO Mahindra Kalyankar, advocating for policy reforms, emphasized that the authority is addressing the issue of builders providing possession of rehab units sans OC. “The SRA has initiated investigations into these cases, with criminal charges filed against certain developers. It is mandatory for developers to secure an OC after constructing a rehab building within an SRA scheme, yet some are delivering these flats to slum dwellers without one,” Kalyankar said.
Notices have been issued under Section 53(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966.
Officials explained that slum dwellers, many of whom have waited years for housing, are falling prey to developer pressure, leading them to occupy homes without an OC. “As a result, these individuals miss out on crucial funds for building maintenance. In some instances, developers even coerce slum dwellers into taking possession to circumvent rent obligations,” officials stated.
Additionally, it was observed that many rehab buildings lack essential water and facilities due to the absence of an OC, prompting the SRA’s crackdown.
Section 53(1) allows planning authorities to issue notices demanding the removal or alteration of unauthorized developments. This notice requires the owner to revert the structure to its original state within a minimum period of one month. “Should these structures remain unregularized, decision orders may follow, allowing for demolition of unauthorized constructions, and criminal charges may also be pursued,” an official mentioned.
In December, DCM Eknath Shinde announced in the Legislative Assembly that the Revised Occupancy Certificate Scheme would be launched to regularize approximately 20,000 buildings in Mumbai, potentially benefiting over 1 million residents who have lacked an OC for years.
