Mumbai: Decision To Not Deem Worli Koliwada As Slum Area Challenged In Court

Mumbai, 20th February 2023: After the Slum Rehabilitation Authority refused to declare about four and a half acres of land in Worli Koliwada as a slum, this decision has now been challenged in the High Court. Efforts have been going on to declare Worli Koliwada a slum for the last seven years.

Adjacent to Worli beach, this plot of land is eyed by many developers. However, if this area is declared a slum, the old residents who have lived there for many years will have to let go of their houses of one thousand to two thousand square feet. The first attempt in this regard was made in 2015. The proposal was filed by the then Chief Executive Officer Asim Gupta after objections were filed by the local municipality and residents. However, Gupta sent a proposal to the government that if all development of Worli Koliwada is not completed within six months, the plot on which there is a slum should be allowed to be declared a slum. The government again put the responsibility of deciding on this proposal on the Chief Executive Officer. The then Chief Executive Officer, Deepak Kapoor, also held a hearing in this matter in 2017, but no final decision was taken in this regard. Therefore, the current Chief Executive Officer, Satish Lokhande, held a hearing in this case and decided in June 2022 that Worli Koliwada cannot be declared a slum. Ashok Warse has now approached the High Court against this decision. Lokhande has approached the High Court claiming that some areas in Worli Koliwada were not declared as slums. The High Court has sent notices to all concerned. Lokhande has approached the High Court claiming that some areas in Worli Koliwada were not declared as slums. The High Court has sent notices to all concerned. Lokhande has approached the High Court claiming that some areas in Worli Koliwada were not declared as slums. The High Court has sent notices to all concerned.

Efforts are on since 2015 to declare the four-and-a-half acre area of Worli Koliwada as a slum area. If this area is declared a slum, the entire Koliwada can be declared a slum. So the original plot holders will get only 300 square feet of houses under the Slum Act. But the developer can build luxury houses in Worli Koliwada. Collective Redevelopment of Worli Koliwada Development Control Regulation 33 (9) means that in case of collective redevelopment residents can get bigger houses. That is why the original plot holders have opposed it, while most of the area in Koliwada comes under the jurisdiction of the municipality. Some properties are taxable. Therefore, the G-South Division of the municipality has taken the stand that this area cannot be redeveloped as per Zopu Act.