An FIR has been registered against the developer of the Royal Palms project in Goregaon’s Aarey Colony for allegedly failing to hand over 349 rehabilitation tenements meant for project-affected persons (PAPs), nearly three decades after the scheme was launched.
The redevelopment project, initiated in 1996, was among Mumbai’s earliest slum rehabilitation schemes. It was issued a letter of intent in March that year, with plans for 12 rehabilitation buildings and 10 buildings for sale. The scheme also increased the size of free rehabilitation homes from 180 sq ft to 225 sq ft.
However, only seven rehabilitation buildings were completed and received occupancy certificates (OCs), enabling around 104 eligible slum residents to be rehabilitated. The remaining five buildings were not completed, and the 349 PAP tenements were never transferred to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).
Of the 10 sale-component buildings, five received OCs, while the others continue to lack the required approvals. Residents of buildings without OCs reportedly face double charges for civic amenities because the structures are considered unauthorised.
Mumbai North-West MP Ravindra Waikar of Shiv Sena raised the issue with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who oversees the housing portfolio, last month. The FIR was subsequently registered with Aarey police, and SRA officials informed Waikar about the development during a meeting on Thursday.
“The developer has sold the flats meant for PAPs to ineligible slumdweliers. The redevelopment scheme which started a very long time ago is still not complete. No action has been taken despite BMC not having issued occupancy certificates. Govt should have taken action against the developer,” said Waikar.
In a separate case, an FIR has been filed against Satish Dattani, the developer appointed for the Bhagat Singh Nagar redevelopment in Goregaon West. Waikar alleged that 229 rehabilitation flats were sold instead of being handed over to the SRA. “In these cases, all eligible slumdwellers were not rehabilitated while tenements were sold to ineligible slumdwellers,” he said.
The SRA has also initiated proceedings under Section 13(2) of the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971, to remove developers and appoint replacements. Similar action has been initiated against Shrimali Realty over the delayed Koyna Nagar redevelopment in Goregaon East, pending for more than 20 years. Officials reportedly assured Waikar that the developer would be removed within a week.
For the Mayur Nagar project in Aarey Colony, the SRA said its proposal had been forwarded to the state government for approval.
Source: Times Of India
