Maharashtra to protect and rehabilitate pre-2011 slums on government land
The Maharashtra government has announced a policy to protect and rehabilitate all slum dwellings built before January 1, 2011, on government and forest lands across Mumbai, Mumbai suburbs, and the Konkan region. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the decision in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, stating that no eligible resident living in these slums will be rendered homeless.
The policy, which has already received Cabinet approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, targets settlements established on lands owned by various central and state government agencies. Minister Bawankule stated that the implementation of the policy has already begun on a war footing across the state.
According to the minister, many of these settlements cannot be regularised at their existing locations due to Development Control Regulations, environmentally sensitive zones, and forest protection norms. Because of these environmental and regulatory restrictions, the government has determined that rehabilitation is the only viable option to secure the housing rights of the affected residents.
To identify eligible beneficiaries, the government will conduct a statewide biometric and physical survey of all eligible residents, including those living in Mumbai and its suburbs. This survey is scheduled to be completed within the next three months.
A high-level committee has been formed to address the rehabilitation issues in Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs, and the Konkan region, where a large number of slums have been built on mangrove, forest, revenue, nazul, and CIDCO lands. Headed by the Konkan Divisional Commissioner, the committee also includes the Collectors of Mumbai city and Mumbai suburban districts. This committee has already initiated the survey process.
Once the biometric and physical surveys are completed, the state government will prepare a comprehensive master plan within three months. This plan will identify the residents who cannot be accommodated at their current locations and arrange for their rehabilitation in housing projects managed by MHADA, CIDCO, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), or other government housing agencies. The decision to use both biometric and physical verification was made following suggestions from state legislators.
