State govt to confiscate SRA homes sold illegally

The state government plans to confiscate all houses allotted to slum dwellers under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme, if it finds out that these dwellings have been illegally sold.

The state government plans to confiscate all houses allotted to slum dwellers under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme, if it finds out that these dwellings have been illegally sold.

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The decision has been taken after the government received numerous complaints that newly allotted houses are being sold even though rules forbid any such transaction before a period of 10 years.

“A law will be enacted in the Slum Act and these premises would be confiscated,” said Sachin Ahir, minister for housing. “We have seen many of them migrating back to the slums, which in effect defeats the very purpose of this scheme for creating a slum-free city.”

The government had launched the SRA scheme to clear slums and also to upgrade the living standards of slum dwellers by providing them decent houses.

Renowned social activist Bhagwanji Raiyani, who had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on this issue, welcomed the government’s decision. “There should be proper monitoring as the houses are provided free to these slum dwellers, who make money by selling them. Also, they are making a mockery of the whole scheme,” said Raiyani.