Cluster redevelopment plan for illegal buildings

The death of 56 persons in the collapse of an illegal building in Mumbra has finally forced the government to announce a policy for rehabilitating lakhs of people living in unauthorised and dangerous structures in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region across seven civic corporations including Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar.

The death of 56 persons in the collapse of an illegal building in Mumbra has finally forced the government to announce a policy for rehabilitating lakhs of people living in unauthorised and dangerous structures in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region across seven civic corporations including Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar.

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There could be at least 1 lakh illegal buildings in these areas.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday announced a cluster redevelopment model for illegal buildings in these areas even as he suspended the deputy municipal commissioner of Mumbra and the senior police inspector of the area where the building collapsed.

"For the illegal buildings in Thane, we are looking at a cluster redevelopment-like model. The draft is ready and has been sent to the law and judiciary department. A special planning authority will be set up to implement this in Mumbra," Chavan said in the state assembly.

The cluster redevelopment scheme in Mumbai envisages granting a floor space index (FSI) of 4 to ensure integrated development of a locality.

However, none of the cluster projects in Mumbai have taken off so far, and this model of redevelopment is yet to be proven as viable.

Chavan also announced an 'improved' slum rehabilitation scheme for these civic corporations to curb illegal constructions.

The decision to grant incentive FSI for integrated redevelopment of the area had been suggested in a report by former state secretary TC Benjamin in 2011. But, it took this accident to spur the government into action.