Govt. gives approval for re-development of Mumbai coastal slums

With the environment ministry giving the go ahead signal the housing units in the coastal areas of Mumbai inhabited by lakhs of slum dwellers would be re-developed. The re-development of these units would be done through joint ventures where the government will hold 51 per cent equity. With the majority stake in the hands of the government it is hoped that land mafias would not be able to take control of these projects.

Apart from this development the environment ministry also gave its nod of approval for the reconstruction of old buildings or chawls located in coastal zones. This has been a long-pending demand of respective state governments.

A new draft notification named Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2010 is being incorporated. This will become effective from mid-November and it is hoped that it will boost real estate redevelopment work in Mumbai, the financial capital of India.

The MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) or any other public department will act as a nodal agency in this venture. As the entry of private builders is restricted in this re-development project, there is no question of them taking control of the properties. Usually involvement of private builders leads to forceful eviction of old tenants who have been living in these housing units for many years.