The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today, issued notices to the Government of Maharashtra and the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs seeking their responses over the pathetic living conditions of the slum dwellers in Mumbai violating their basic Human Rights
Acting on a complaint in this regard, the Commission expressed serious concerns over the living conditions of slum dwellers in Mumbai amidst alleged inaction by the State authorities to ameliorate the cause of their human rights and issued notices to the Government of Maharashtra and the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs seeking their responses.
The Government of Maharashtra responded, through its Chief Secretary, that several efforts have been made and schemes have been framed to provide dwelling units to the slum dwellers for Economically Weaker Sections with the State and Central assistance under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna (Urban), PMAY (U). Shortage of funds has been cited as an impediment and that as such Rs. 10794 Cr. of Central Assistance is due. The Centre on its part responded that out of 2.24 lakh houses in Maharashtra, 2 lakh were sanctioned for Mumbai alone out of which 58225 have been grounded.
The Commission sought a response from the Secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to give a comprehensive report and comments on the unpaid amount of Rs. 10794 Cr. as Central Assistance under PMAY (U) for EWS. He has been given 4 weeks’ time.
Earlier, despite reminders and conditional summons, when the requisite reports were not submitted by the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, the Commission issued non-conditional summons to him for his personal appearance before it on December 27, 2021. A notice was also sent to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs calling for a report.
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs vide its communication dated December 3, 2021, submitted that under the Constitution of India, the Land and Colonization are State subjects. The Centre is only augmenting the efforts of the State primarily to meet the housing needs of economically weaker sections in urban areas through Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna-Urban (PMAY-U).
It further said that the State Government also decides on the modes of allotment whether on ownership rights or on renewable, mortgageable and inheritable leasehold rights and are competent to impose suitable restriction on transfer of houses constructed under this vertical. According to the report, so far, throughout the country 4.58 lakh houses had been sanctioned under ISSR vertical of PMAY-U. This includes 2.24 lakh houses in Maharashtra of which 2.00 lakh houses had been sanctioned for Mumbai alone of which 77,560 houses have been grounded, including 58,225 in Mumbai.
The Ministry is still open to approve any slum redevelopment project submitted by the respective States. Under ISSR vertical, Union Government provides Slum rehabilitation grant of rupee one lakh per house, on an average, for eligible slum dwellers in all such projects.
The Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra vide his communication dated December 15, 2021 submitted a detailed report in the matter along with the action initiated against the subordinates for delay in submitting the reports and prayed for exemption from personal appearance before the Commission.
According to the report, there are approximately, more than 16 lakh slum structures in Mumbai City and Suburban area excluding the 3.5 Lakhs structures of which survey is already completed. Further, out of 370 stalled Slum Rehabilitation Schemes, the majority of them are either delayed or stuck up for want of sufficient funds. To make available all the information pertaining to Slum Rehabilitation Schemes in Mumbai City and Suburbs, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority has developed a mobile app namely “AASRA”. The citizens can find out the boundaries of the scheme, buffer zone, the details of permissions granted to Slum Rehabilitation Schemes, etc.
The report says that the Government of Maharashtra has taken various initiatives to give impetus to PMAY mission. Out of the total target of 19.40 lakh dwelling units, the State has so far sanctioned 15.38 lakh dwelling units across all the four verticals of PMAY (U) by Central sanctioning and Monitoring Committee. The total number of dwelling units for the EWS are 969628, out of which 721048 dwelling units are eligible for central assistance. Accordingly Rs.10794 Cr. of Central Assistance is due under PMAY (U) for EWS. State has so far released Rs.1738.244 Cr. as state share. Further, an urgent central assistance of Rs.1937.33 Cr. is required from the Government of India in financial year 2021-22 under PMAY (U). LAB/SNG