Illegal slum residents in state can get SRA flats, but will have to pay

By Realty Quarter Bureau

The state government will be amending the Maharashtra Slum Act, 1971, to make any slum dweller, irrespective of the date of construction, eligible for a flat under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY)

Slum residents in the state who have constructed the slum beyond the datum line 2000 will be eligible for a flat under the slum rehabilitation scheme on paying a nominal cost.

The state government will be amending the Maharashtra Slum Act, 1971, to make any slum dweller, irrespective of the date of construction, eligible for a flat under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY). The state is also looking to merge the housing-for-all concept with slum rehabilitation.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the housing department convened by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Officials in the housing department said they are in the process of finalizing the rate slum dwellers will have to pay for a house under a slum rehabilitation project.

“Either some concessions will be given in the ready reckoner (RR) rate or the slumdweller may have to bear the cost of construction,” said an official.

The official said these slumdwellers will get flats only if extra flats are available in the project, after allotting legal slum dwellers (prior to January 2000). “There is no question of rehousing illegal slum dwellers, post cut-off date, free of cost as it would encourage them to erect slums illegally.

A person who does not have a house anywhere in the country is liable for one under the PMAY and there is no cut-off date,” said minister of state for housing Ravindra Waikar. It should be noted PMAY is not for Mumbai.

At the meeting, it was also decided to consider increasing the size of flats given under SRA to 300 sq ft from the current 269 sq ft.