In an attempt to highlight and create awareness amongst the youth and citizens of Mumbai City on the current Housing situation and policy of Mumbai,
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai/Suburbs (Forum for IQOLM/S) in association with Jitendra Chauhan College of Law and Shri Vileparle Kelawni Mandal(SVKM) College of Law , http://jcclrth.bravehost.com, conducted a one day intensive Quest wherein 12 colleges and various activists, politicians, judiciary and citizens of the city of Mumbai participated on the subject of "Right to Housing in Mumbai".
Launch Chief Guest Rtd. Justice Kochar- and Guest Speakers Councilor Ashish Shelar and Film Maker Ashoke Pandit. They brought out different facets of housing problems in Mumbai.
1. Rtd. Justice Kochar- said that National Housing as well as state housing policy prime feature is Shelter for All. He Mentioned that in initial years in 1950’s there was priority for small houses which were let out for RS.30/month rent for and area of 225/sq t. These people have since sold out flats and moved out and illegal persons are staying there. Root causes for housing problem are 1) increasing migration due to lack of development in other states and rural India. 2) Lack of employment opportunities in Native places, 3) Rent act has discouraged housing for rental purposes. 4) There is low priority for low cost housing.
2. Ashish Shelar said - No survey has been done as regards number of slums, infrastructure requirements and FSI needed to be generated due to the SRA Schemes. Approx 1 lakhs sq ft /month of construction is generated in City and 5 lkhs in Suburbs having FSI 1.33 and 1 respectively. With the proposed FSI of 4 for Slum redevelopment. Total area generated will be 24 lakhs sq ft / mth. Instead of 5 lakhs. He mentioned only 4 projects have been sanctioned with and FSI of 120 lakh Sq Ft. Industrial Area earlier constituted to 12% of total area n now it has come down to 8 % with 3% being taken into Housing sector.
3. Ashok Pandit - Middle class and property tax paying class Perspective- are not raising their voices against free housing for slum dwellers. Policies are made keeping voters in mind. He lamented that Middle class people, who have to shell lakhs of Rs. To buy legitimate houses and pay EMI’s for the rest of their lives, are least bothered as to why some sections of the society are given free houses. The beneficiaries of these free houses then sell these houses and go back to live in slums to avail of more free houses. He said the judiciary is doing its best to stop corruption by passing good orders but the problem comes during implementation of these orders as the same is in the hands of the politicians and bureaucracy who are least bothered about the citizens or the city.
Panel Discussion on “Current Housing Policy” Is the Current Housing Policy Mumbai Friendly? Pros and Cons.
Chandrashekhar Prabhu: Policy is builder oriented, provides builders with exemptions from various taxes. Major issues is where will the land be available for more housing? ULCA would have been main resource of land which will be soon repealed. 18,000 acers of land are available with only 11 land lords in the city. As regards Rental housing he gave figures to show that even if 400-500 sq ft rental would work out to 15,000/ mth which is unaffordable to even middle class, let alone to poor. Govt officials have ensured that ULCA has been a failure.
Arvind Adarkar- Current Housing Policy will not last as it is only to garner votes before elections. The policy sounds all sweet and dandy and perfect but People in power themselves will combine to defeat the policy. When LIG housing is built, the flats are combined together to make row houses for the affluent people.
Anil Gachake for Rashtriya Matadata Manch: In Bombay, total area of 437 Km, usable land is only 180 sq/kms most of which is occupied by old and new bldgs. Extension of SRA date has encouraged more encroachment and mushrooming of Slums. No rental Housing is available. Suggestions is govt. agencies such as MHADA, Public Sector Companies should construct housing on their own land and money can be raised from LIC and Public sector banks. These houses can then be given on low rents to the poor. Cost of construction needs to be brought down to make affordable houses.
Vidya Chawan- Government is atleast thinking of housing for the people, this is a good sign. 2) Lots of flats are lying vacant but there is no money available with people for purchasing them at current prices. Mill lands given to builders to build malls and towers. 30% of slum dwellers, who are entitled to SRA, are not getting the same as these are taken over by builders and sold in the open market. Middle class is indifferent and does not react to blatant misuse of the policies. There is no control of prices of housing.
Simpreet Singh: People providing important services to us are the people living in slums. Generally they form the informal sector for whom there is no social security. SRA misuse is so blatant that 60 storey towers are being build in Tardeo as part of SRA scheme.
Activities like Group lab workshop was judged by Mr.Bhagwanji Rayani, Ms.Meena Menon, Adv. Jamshed Mistry.
Moot Court was judged by Rtd. Justice Rane and attended by Adv. Uday Warunjikar.
