Maharashtra to move Bill to regularise 400,000 illegal slums
Maharashtra, Congress-NCP government has already gone into the election mode. On Friday the traditional vote bank, the government will bring in bill, in a serious bid to despair slum dwellers with a proposal to regularize nearly 400,000 illegal slums in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra. The government proposes to extend the earlier cut off date of 1995 to 2000, through the proposed bill. After consulting the advocate general, the decision to move bill was taken.
NCP and Congress had declared alike move ahead of 2004 and 2009 general elections but disappoint to implement it citing legal issues. For that reason now the government has chosen a legislation route ahead of announcement of code of conduct for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. In view of a burgeoning pressure mainly from the elected representatives, the state cabinet at its meeting held on late Wednesday evening decided to extend the cut-off date to regularize the slums.
During coming general elections both the Congress and NCP hope that the move to regularize slums up to 2000 will help retain its dominance in Greater Mumbai. Congress had won five seats while one by NCP defeating Shiv Sena, BJP and MNS candidates,in 2009 polls.
Nearly 3, 25,000 are situated in Mumbai, out of 400,000 illegal slums, and the balance in the rest of Maharashtra. These slums will be entitled for redevelopment and they will get the assistance under the slum rehabilitation scheme, as per government’s move to regularize these slums.
Business Standard was informed by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan that ”The government’s move is in line with its decision to make Mumbai slum free. We will table a bill in the state legislature on Friday.”
Sachin Ahir minister of state for housing and slum rehabilitation alleged that the Congress NCP government is fulfilling its promise given earlier. He suggested ”The slum dwellers will be benefited due to redevelopment.”
In 2004, the Congress party in its manifesto had promised to regularize slums up to January 1, 2000. Though, the party later made clear that it was a “printing mistake”.
The Bombay High Court had also refused to extend the cut-off date for regularizing slums to January 1, 2000 from January 1, 1995. Against the HC verdict, the state government approached the Supreme Court.
Source: Business Standard
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