Maharashtra Slum Rehabilitation Authority: Maharashtra Government Proposes Slum Act Amendment to Enforce Transit Rent Collection from Builders, ET Infra
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday tabled a bill in the state assembly that proposes to amend the law concerning slum redevelopment, allowing the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to recover pending transit rent dues from builders or developers.The bill seeks to amend the Maharashtra Slum Area (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971. It also seeks to treat unpaid rent to slum dwellers as arrears of land revenue, thereby empowering the SRA to initiate recovery proceedings under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (MLRC). "The SRA hopes that the amendments will help fast-track its projects and also ensure slum dwellers are not left in the lurch without their rightful rent," an official said.As per the proposed amendment, if a defaulting builder lacks sufficient company assets to clear the dues, the liability can extend to the personal property of its directors or partners.Currently, the SRA can issue stop-work notices or deny new permissions to defaulter developer.Officials, however, say that even as the stop work notice is issued, slum dwellers are left in lurch with no rent and the lack of stronger punitive measures lead to widespread non-payment of rent, which is why amendment is necessary.The bill also seeks to reduce the window for dissenting slum dwellers to join the SRA schemes - from 120 days to 60 days - once a majority (over 50 per cent) has consented to a redevelopment plan. After the 60-day period, those who do not join the scheme risk losing their claim to on-site rehabilitation and may only be considered for relocation elsewhere, subject to availability.Another provision allows land under slum redevelopment to be handed over to government agencies like MMRDA, MHADA, MSRDC and CIDCO within 30 days of issuance of a letter of intent, enabling faster execution of public sector-led projects.
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Congress' Rajya Sabha MP and counsel for one of the petitioners, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, while addressing a press conference on Saturday (July 12) said that the law was amended to embrace Aadhaar but it has been 'kicked out'. 'The amazing part is that for the last 15 odd years or 12 odd years, we have been living, breathing, acting, sleeping, and waking with Aadhaar. Some years ago the Representation of the People Act was amended and Section 23(4) was added to say that Aadhaar is a valid card,' he said. 'And now this document violates the statutes and it is optional and it may be there it may not be there and other citizenship documents will be looked at? Election Commission voter ID card is to be ignored, so also ration card. You amended the law to embrace Aadhaar and kicked it out of the main bazaar. In 12 years, billions are linked yet Aadhaar is not good enough for a voter's ink,' he added. 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