Eknath Shinde Promises Swift Redevelopment of Unsafe Buildings in Mumbai
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Synopsis
On March 6, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed the government's commitment to expedite the redevelopment of unsafe buildings in Mumbai, addressing procedural hurdles and ensuring affordable housing for citizens while tackling water issues in Thane.
Key Takeaways
- Government to fast-track redevelopment of unsafe structures.
- New housing policy aims at affordable housing.
- Proposals for redevelopment are being actively pursued.
- Water issues in Thane to be addressed with sufficient funding.
- Six new water tanks under construction to improve supply.
Mumbai, March 6 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde informed the state Assembly on Thursday that the government is set to expedite the redevelopment of hazardous, dilapidated, and aged structures in Mumbai.
He mentioned that a meeting will be organized soon with public representatives to eliminate hurdles and thereby facilitate the redevelopment of such buildings.
In his response to a calling attention motion initiated by Amin Patel, Vijay Wadettiwar, and others, Shinde stated that “if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or the relevant authority labels a building as dangerous, the owner is initially given a chance to redevelop it. Should the owner fail to submit a proposal within 6 months, this opportunity is extended to the cooperative housing society of the occupants or tenants. If they also do not submit a proposal within 6 months, there exists a provision for land acquisition and redevelopment via the Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board.”
The Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board has issued notifications to 854 building owners. Among these, 67 owners have put forth redevelopment proposals, and 30 of them have received a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
“The state government is introducing a new housing policy aimed at ensuring the availability of affordable housing for the general populace. The government aims to bring back Mumbaikars who have relocated from the metropolis due to halted redevelopment projects. The government is dedicated to accelerating stalled housing ventures in Mumbai and providing homes for ordinary citizens,” he added.
Numerous legislators, including Atul Bhatkhalkar and Yogesh Sagar (BJP), highlighted to the Deputy CM that the redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings in Mumbai's suburbs is lagging due to procedural hurdles. They urged the government to resolve these issues to fast-track the redevelopment process.
Eknath Shinde guaranteed that the government will take the necessary actions in this matter.
Additionally, he informed the Assembly that the water issues in Thane city and its neighboring regions, including Kalwa, Mumbra, and Diva, will also be addressed.
In response to a calling attention motion raised by NCP-SP legislator Jitendra Awhad, he assured the Assembly that funding would not be an obstacle in tackling the water scarcity in Thane and surrounding areas.
Shinde further stated that Thane Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation will supply 130.50 million liters of water daily to the Mumbra, Kausa, and Kalwa areas.
To ensure consistent water pressure, six water tanks are being constructed in the region. Of these, two have been commissioned, and work on laying distribution water pipes to operationalize the remaining four tanks is ongoing.
