Maharashtra government has taken a big step to make Mumbai slum-free. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Has announced ‘Hindu Hridayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Urban Public Welfare Campaign’. This campaign is being launched on the occasion of the birth centenary of Balasaheb Thackeray, which is being considered an important step towards realizing his dreams.
The government says that while this scheme will lead to rapid redevelopment of old slum areas, construction of new slums will also be strictly prohibited.
Group redevelopment will get a boost
Under this scheme, slum redevelopment will be done on a large scale. The government has made it clear that priority will be given to areas with an area of at least 50 acres and more than 51% slums.
Big projects will be started in these areas on private, government and semi-government lands. For this, first proper measurement and biometric survey of the area will be done, so that the data of every family can be recorded correctly. After this, the work will be taken forward in collaboration with local organizations like Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and MMRDA.
This scheme has brought relief news for the people living in slums. Whereas earlier flats ranging from 180 to 269 square feet were available, now the government has decided to provide flats of 300 square feet.
This means that people will get more space and better living facilities than before. Besides, old projects will also be upgraded and developed as per the new standards.
Strict monitoring will be done with ‘Netram’ technology
The government is taking the help of technology to stop the formation of new slums. The entire city will be monitored through the ‘Netram’ system. Satellite images, GIS and digital data will be used in this.
Every four months, satellite images will be taken to check whether new huts are being built. If illegal construction is found anywhere, immediate action will be taken. For this, information will be sent to the concerned departments through the web portal of BISAG-N.
Change in maintenance charges
Under the new plan, tall buildings will be constructed, hence maintenance expenses will also increase. In view of this, the government has proposed to increase the fees. Now the fee can be fixed at ₹ 1 lakh for a building up to 70 meters, ₹ 2 lakh for 70 to 120 meters and ₹ 3 lakh above 120 meters. For this, the process of making changes in the Development Control and Incentive Rules 2034 has also started.
The government says that the main objective of this campaign is to provide safe, permanent and comfortable houses to lakhs of people of Mumbai. Besides, stopping the spread of illegal settlements in the city is also a big priority.
If this plan is implemented properly, then the picture of Mumbai can change significantly in the coming times and the dream of ‘slum-free city’ can become a reality.