Municipality demands ownership of self-owned plots for ‘Zopu’ scheme
Maharashtra: The stalled slum rehabilitation schemes in Mumbai are now being run through various government authorities and corporations. Accordingly, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has been given the responsibility of rehabilitating 50,000 huts on land owned by them. The municipality has started preparing to start about six projects in the first phase. However, to implement this scheme, the municipality has to send the proposal to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority for approval and this is not acceptable to the municipality. Therefore, the municipality has sought to appoint itself a special planning authority for slum schemes on its plots. A few days ago, the municipality has sent a proposal in this regard to the state government.
The municipality is now waiting for the decision of the state government. The Zopu scheme is being implemented through the Zopu Authority to make Mumbai slum free. But at the same time, many slum schemes in Mumbai are stalled due to technical and financial difficulties. The state government has decided to complete the stalled Zopu schemes through government agencies like MHADA, Palika, CIDCO, Mahapreet, MSRDC, MMRDA, MIDC. Accordingly, the government has set a target of rehabilitation of about two lakh huts in more than 200 schemes within three years through these government mechanisms and under this, the municipality has been entrusted with the responsibility of rehabilitation of about 50 thousand huts. These are 50,000 huts in about 68 hut schemes on the municipality’s own plots.
Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani said that after getting this responsibility, the municipality has decided to implement six sleeping schemes in the first phase. He also said that action is underway to pave the way for this sleeping scheme. The municipality will have to enter into a joint agreement with the Zopu Authority to implement the Zopu scheme on self-owned plots. On the other hand, for all kinds of permissions, the proposal has to be sent to the Zopu Authority and the proposal has to be approved. Then it is not acceptable for the municipality to send the proposal to ‘Zopu’ scheme for rehabilitation on the municipality’s own land and get approval. ‘Zopu Authority’ has been designated as the special planning authority for ‘Zopu’ scheme on the municipality’s land. Therefore, the municipality has to make a joint agreement and send the proposal to the ‘Needrit’ authority.
The municipality’s position is that why should the municipality send the proposal to any other authority for approval for rehabilitation on its plots. Therefore, the municipality demands that the municipality should be appointed as a specially designated authority for ‘Zopu’ schemes on the premises of the municipality. Accordingly, Gagrani has also said that a few days ago the proposal in this regard has been sent to the State Government for approval. Now the municipality has turned its attention towards what and when the Urban Development Department as well as the Housing Department decide on this proposal of the municipality.
