Latest news with #SlumRehabilitationAuthority
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
No public interest, says Bombay high court; Rs 1 lakh cost slapped on litigant who sought razing of ‘illegal' SRA building in Mumbai
Mumbai: Bombay high court on Tuesday imposed Rs 1 lakh cost on a litigant who filed a public interest litigation seeking the demolition of a building with six wings in a Slum Rehabilitation Authority project at Kandivli (E), observing that "there's no public interest" and his earlier petition was dismissed by the court. "Admittedly, an earlier petition filed by the petitioner seeking similar reliefs was dismissed. The aforesaid decision binds the petitioner in the instant PIL on the principle of res judicata (a matter already judged). There is no element of public interest," said Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne. The PIL by Ankush Jaiswal, a journalist, alleged serious illegalities in the construction of Bandongari Ekta Cooperative Housing Society, including highway and fire no-objection certificates' violations. Jaiswal's advocate, Satish Talekar, said his 2019 petition, dismissed by the HC in Sept 2022, was not heard on merits. Since a public interest is involved, a second petition is maintainable. Talekar said lives are in danger. The judges questioned why Jaiswal came after completion of the project. The bench also asked him why he was staying there when he knew "it is dangerous to life" and whether he wanted the rehabilitated slumdwellers to "come on the streets." The judges said the PIL "amounts to an abuse of the process of law" for reasons including that Jaiswal questioned the Feb 2001 highway NOC after 22 years. His father was allotted a flat and also purchased another flat. He resides with his father in the building he alleges is illegally constructed. While he seeks demolition, slumdwellers who were rehabilitated and purchased flats are not impleaded. The HC said, "It is trite law that a decision rendered in a litigation has a binding effect …and bars any member of the public from raising any connected issue or an issue which has been raised or should have been raised on an earlier occasion by way of public interest." The judges dismissed the PIL and directed that the Rs 1 lakh that Jaiswal had deposited to show his bona fide, be adjusted towards cost and paid to the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Zeeshan Akhtar? Key suspect in Baba Siddique murder held in Canada; linked to Bishnoi gang
. Zeeshan Akhtar has been detained in Canada in connection with the murder of NCP politician Baba Siddique. Akhtar was reportedly held on the basis of an Interpol notice and has been in Canadian police custody for over a week. Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead on October 12 last year outside his son's office in Bandra (East), Mumbai. Three assailants carried out the attack. His son had alleged that a builder lobby involved in a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project was responsible, but police ruled out this angle. Instead, their chargesheet pointed to Lawrence Bishnoi's Canada-based brother Anmol as the mastermind, linking the murder to Siddique's alleged connections with Dawood Ibrahim and actor Salman Khan. So far, 26 people have been arrested from different parts of the country, including Pune, Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich, Haryana, Dombivli and Karjat. They include Shivkumar Gautam alias Shiva, who is accused of firing the shots. All 26 are facing charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Who is Zeeshan Akhtar Zeeshan Akhtar is a 22-year-old from Punjab. He is accused of being a key conspirator in Baba Siddique's murder. Police say Akhtar planned the killing, managed finances through more than 10 bank accounts, and coordinated with other accused. He worked closely with jailed shooter Gurmel Singh and helped arrange weapons and shelter for the attackers. Akhtar reportedly left Mumbai a month before the murder to avoid raising suspicion. He is linked to the Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi gang. Akhtar is the second accused to be detained in Canada after Anmol Bishnoi.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
No slum dwellers' consent needed for 64 redevelopment projects on our land: BMC
MUMBAI: Following the Dharavi model, the BMC has announced that the consent of slum dwellers will not be needed for the redevelopment of 64 slum plots on BMC land. Effectively, this smoothens the road for developers interested in redeveloping the slum pockets after the Maharashtra government in March handed over the responsibility of their development to the civic body. The projects will unfold as per the usual model established by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), under the provisions of 33(10) of the Development Control and Promotion Regulation (DCPR), 2034, except with the BMC as the implementing authority, said an official from the BMC's estate department. The cut-off date for eligibility and home sizes offered to eligible dwellers will also be as per SRA rules. On May 10, BMC opened the gates for developers to express their interest in developing the plots. The majority of the 64 plots lie in the western and eastern suburbs, with most falling in Govandi followed by Malad East. In total, the BMC is seeking to develop around 400,000 square metres of slum land in the city. On Tuesday, the civic body released a supplementary document and also extended the date for developers to submit bids till June 25. The bids will be opened on that very day, and technical scrutiny will begin. The BMC made the lack of consent clear in response to clarifications raised in pre-bid consultations by interested developers, saying, 'As the BMC is the landowner, slum dweller consent is not required for redevelopment as per the provisions of Regulation 33(10), VI-1.15 of DCPR 2034.' Slum redevelopment projects typically require a majority consent from residents, but the DCPR makes an exception to the rule. 'While there is the question of carrying out slum redevelopment in a democratic manner, there is no doubt here that the BMC has administrative authority over municipal land and is empowered to initiate action for the removal of unauthorised structures and the eviction of their occupants, following due process,' explained Dhaval Parsana, principal architect at Project Maitree, which works in the field of redevelopment. In this way, at least the eligible slum dwellers are promised housing. Redevelopment may happen at a quicker pace than the prevailing practice, as there will be little scope of LOI (letter of intent) issues on the basis of their consent forms being traded from one developer to another for years on end, often jeopardising their chances of a home. When asked if this was a way to lead to the promised slum-free Mumbai, Parsana did not hold his breath. 'A slum-free city is a distant dream that will take a long time to reach,' he said. 'To eradicate slums, Mumbai needs an affordable rental market that provides an alternative to people coming into the city. It is likely that those deemed ineligible in these slum redevelopment projects will revert to slum homes in other areas if left with no affordable alternative.' Govandi, the area with the most slums in the city and the one that stands to be affected the most, has its roots in forceful evictions conducted when the suburbs of Bandra, Juhu and Andheri had begun being developed. 'This is a classic case of exclusion. You cannot make decisions affecting thousands of families on public land without consulting them. It's against the principles of democracy and natural justice,' said a vehement Faiyaz Alam, president of the Govandi-based NGO New Sangam Welfare Forum, who shot off a letter to the Maharashtra CM, BMC and other authorities. 'No community consultations, surveys or official notices have been issued to inform or involve residents in the decision-making process. The people are not going to be against redevelopment as it will only improve their area, but the process needs to be transparent so that they have the space and time to raise their concerns beforehand. The decisions cannot be made between the builder and BMC alone when it is the residents that stand to be affected.' Parsana questioned what the BMC was offering in these projects to make it lucrative for developers to undertake the whole exercise: from surveying the site, communicating with the slum dwellers, preparing the annexures, providing them with rehabilitation homes, and providing additional housing to the BMC to get the edge over other developers. After the developers are chosen, they will have to communicate with the residents on the project plan and survey them to create an annexure of eligible residents. The civic body has said it will assist in carrying out any necessary evictions.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Dharavi Redevelopment aims for
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 10 (ANI): SVR Srinivas, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), said on Tuesday that the project is central to Mumbai's redevelopment, with an emphasis on housing and livelihoods. In an interview with ANI, Srinivas provided an in-depth overview of the project that also lays thrust on building resilient ecology and infrastructure. 'The vision is slum-free Mumbai. That is the broader vision. And through that, to become slum-free Maharashtra. And it's a project of importance and central to the redevelopment of Mumbai. So it is also a step towards slum-free India. That is the vision,' he said. 'The motto is housing for all. Nobody should be left out in the process as far as housing is concerned. It is the most inclusive Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project ever undertaken in India,' he added. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is a major urban renewal initiative for country's financial capital. The project aims to transform Dharavi area, Asia's largest slum, into a modern, integrated township. Srinivas emphasised the government's unwavering commitment to transforming one of Asia's largest informal settlements into a sustainable and inclusive urban space. He added that the DRP is as much about preserving livelihoods as it is about providing shelter. 'The most important part of this project is number one, housing for all, which we are giving. Number two, ensure that the livelihoods are protected. It is more of a livelihoods issue. And I call this project a movement, because such a project has never ever taken place in our redevelopment history or urban history anywhere in India,' Srinivas said. The DRP is being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The project is a joint venture between the Adani Group and the Government of Maharashtra. All eligible residential tenements in Dharavi, are slated to get flats with independent kitchens and toilets measuring a minimum 350 square feet (sq ft), which is 17 per cent more and the highest among slum redevelopment projects in Mumbai. The ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project, received approval from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month. The proposed master plan is an attempt to build on the existing characteristics of Dharavi and create a world-class district for Dharavikars and reimagine a new heart for Mumbai. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) is a unique opportunity to transform the lives and 'live-work' conditions of Dharavikars, aiming for a higher quality of life with great infrastructure and public amenities. As per the Dharavi Master Plan, it is being built on the foundation of three guiding principles: driving economic change through redevelopment, building resilient ecology and infrastructure, and fostering an equitable Dharavi. It will have an interconnected network of green and public spaces, ranging from large city parks to smaller community playgrounds, ensuring every resident can access vibrant, walkable open areas. This network shall strengthen ecological resilience and enhance Dharavi's quality of life every day. A large active public open space is being planned in the centre of Dharavi, which will not only serve the recreation needs of the residents but also of Mumbai city at large. (ANI)
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
No need for slum-dwellers' consent in Dharavi redevelopment project: CEO
Despite persistent resistance from a section of Dharavi residents to the redevelopment project, more than half of the slum's dwellers have given their consent to the redevelopment plan, according to SVR Srinivas, chief executive officer of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. However, he clarified that such consent was not mandatory under the current framework, since the project developer was appointed directly by the state government. 'Under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority [SRA] rules, the building society appoints the developer. For that, 50 per cent consent is required. But here, the govt has appointed the developer. In this case, there is no need for consent,' Srinivas told The Times of India. The Dharavi redevelopment is being spearheaded by Nav Bharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which the Adani Group holds an 80 per cent stake, with the Maharashtra government retaining the remaining 20 per cent. The land in question is publicly owned, held by the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). How is eligibility for rehab determined? Srinivas said nearly 100,000 residents had already taken part in the house-to-house survey being conducted to determine eligibility for rehabilitation. With just 20,000 households left to be surveyed, he noted that even by conventional parameters, the 50 per cent threshold had already been crossed. Srinivas emphasised that participation in the survey equates to consent. 'They have given their documents voluntarily. There is a line in the survey which says they are willing to participate in the redevelopment. So, when they sign, it is consent,' he was quoted as saying by The Times of India. Despite consent not being a statutory requirement, Srinivas said the government had made several efforts to involve the residents. 'We don't want to ride roughshod on anybody. We have already given four opportunities. We put it in the newspaper and then we also put it on their doors,' he added. What concerns surround the land allocation? The scale of the project is massive, requiring an estimated 500,000 eligible tenements to be given free housing within Dharavi, while another 500,000 ineligible tenements will be relocated to rental housing outside the area. However, the allocation of 541 acres of land across Mumbai for rental housing and the free-sale component to the Adani-led SPV has drawn criticism from opposition leaders. Many have labelled the redevelopment as a 'land-grab' that could potentially open up prime real estate for private profit. The 541 acres earmarked for this purpose include locations such as Deonar, Kurla, Aksa, Malvani, and salt pan lands in Bhandup, Mulund, and Kanjurmarg. So far, only 63.5 acres — in Kurla and Mulund — have been handed over. What explains the land allocation delays? Addressing these concerns, Srinivas clarified that the land meant for rental housing is in the possession of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and not with the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). 'The problem is that there is a shortage of land in Mumbai. We had written to many different agencies including from the central government for these lands. In some cases, there were rejections. So, we did not know which lands would come and we started applying to different places,' he said. What happens to unused land parcels? 'Now these lands are coming but they will be with the DRP. Unless people are rehabilitated, the land will not be given to the SPV,' he further stated, adding that rental units would be constructed in phases. If the entire 541 acres isn't used, the remainder will revert to the government. 'Our mandate is limited to Dharavi. The land that is not used, will revert to the govt,' Srinivas said. When asked how planning was done despite the ongoing survey, he said that the project relied on a combination of a drone survey, LIDAR survey, and now, the physical house-to-house verification. 'Based on these three, we did a comparison and an extrapolation of data, which is how it works. In projects of this size, some things can go on simultaneously,' he said.
