Mumbai: The government will ask Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority to conduct a survey of the Nargis Dutt Nagar slums in Bandra (W) to determine the eligible slumdwellers for rehab. Ranjeet Patil, minister of state for Urban Development, replying to a calling attention said 49,000 small and big fires in these slums have been reported in the last 10 years, from which, 33,000 fires were caused due to short-circuit.
The calling attention was raised by Amit Satam of BJP in the Assembly and by Hemant Takle of NCP in the council on Monday. Patil said, “As per police reports, there are no illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the slums. But, the survey will be conducted in the 1,600 slum dwellings of the Nargis Dutt Nagar slums to find out how many are eligible for rehab.”
Replying to a query by Bhai Jagtap of Congress, Patil assured the House a probe will be ordered of the alleged connivance between BMC, police, MHADA and officials from the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) for the prevalent illegalities. Patil added orders will be issued to authorities to shut illegal units or small factories making plastic products in slums. Referring to the earlier rehab of 217 slumdwellers by the previous govt, the minister said the government will determine how to rehabilitate the eligible slumdwellers on the nearby plot of land under low cost housing schemes of the government.