Slum-free Mumbai may become a reality
Centre to open up saltpan and government-owned land to build affordable homes under the Rajiv Awas Yojana
A slum-free Mumbai? It may become a reality if the Central government's decision to give affordable houses to all slum dwellers under its Rajiv Awas Yojana is a success.
And to create space for constructing affordable houses for the poor and weaker section of society, the Centre has decided to open up saltpan and government-owned land.
Kumari Shailja, minister of central housing and urban poverty alleviation, and chief minister Prithviraj Chavan released the Rajiv Awas Yojana documents on Tuesday.
DNA had earlier reported that as part of the Rajiv Awas Yojana, the government would ask private developers to keep 20-25% of houses in all private and public projects for the economically weaker section.
Shailja said the plan was to bring all existing slums within the formal system, thus enabling them to avail all basic facilities. "It will help control the growth of slums and prepare the city for urban development. We are also setting up a financial mechanism offering risk mortgage fund, where the person who will be allotted a home has a pay a minimum amount," she said.
"To implement the scheme successfully across India, the Centre will offer 50% funds for the construction of affordable houses. The rest will be raised by the state and the person who will get the house."
Chavan said the scheme will help to make Mumbai, and subsequently the state, slum-free. "It is the dream and to materialise it, each stakeholder has to work hard and honestly. The local corporation will create an infrastructure so that the existing one is not burdened. Developers' participation is also crucial."
But, urban planners are not convinced. "Earlier, we have given houses to pre-1995 slum dwellers. The government wanted to extend the deadline, but the court had objected. So, to allure the slum dwellers, the government has come up with the Rajiv Awas Yojana, which is just an improved version of the SRA," said an urban planner.
Developers believe that the government needs to think out of the box. "Whenever polls are around the corner, the government comes up with such schemes. This scheme is very ambiguous and has several loopholes," said a builder.
Centre to open up saltpan and government-owned land to build affordable homes under the Rajiv Awas Yojana
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And to create space for constructing affordable houses for the poor and weaker section of society, the Centre has decided to open up saltpan and government-owned land.
Kumari Shailja, minister of central housing and urban poverty alleviation, and chief minister Prithviraj Chavan released the Rajiv Awas Yojana documents on Tuesday.
DNA had earlier reported that as part of the Rajiv Awas Yojana, the government would ask private developers to keep 20-25% of houses in all private and public projects for the economically weaker section.
Shailja said the plan was to bring all existing slums within the formal system, thus enabling them to avail all basic facilities. "It will help control the growth of slums and prepare the city for urban development. We are also setting up a financial mechanism offering risk mortgage fund, where the person who will be allotted a home has a pay a minimum amount," she said.
"To implement the scheme successfully across India, the Centre will offer 50% funds for the construction of affordable houses. The rest will be raised by the state and the person who will get the house."
Chavan said the scheme will help to make Mumbai, and subsequently the state, slum-free. "It is the dream and to materialise it, each stakeholder has to work hard and honestly. The local corporation will create an infrastructure so that the existing one is not burdened. Developers' participation is also crucial."
But, urban planners are not convinced. "Earlier, we have given houses to pre-1995 slum dwellers. The government wanted to extend the deadline, but the court had objected. So, to allure the slum dwellers, the government has come up with the Rajiv Awas Yojana, which is just an improved version of the SRA," said an urban planner.
Developers believe that the government needs to think out of the box. "Whenever polls are around the corner, the government comes up with such schemes. This scheme is very ambiguous and has several loopholes," said a builder.
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