Mumbai: Malvani Slums To Be Developed Soon
Mumbai, 23rd March 2023: The Maharashtra government is seriously considering redevelopment of the sprawling slums in the Malvani area of Malad West on the lines of the Dharavi project. Mumbai Municipal Corporation has been entrusted with the responsibility in this regard. As per the Development Control Rules applicable for Dharavi redevelopment, it is proposed to set up Malvani Redevelopment Authority for redevelopment. Sources said a preliminary discussion was held in the meeting organized in this direction.
In the last few years, there have been countless encroachments on the vacant land in the Malvani area. Similar to Dharavi, there has been a large number of slums in this place. Out of the 1100 acres of slum and encroached land, 890 acres belong to the state government and 290 acres belong to the central government. Apart from this, there is a large amount of private land. Most of these plots are occupied by slums and multi-storied chalis. The issue of setting up illegal studios for filming on vacant plots was also in the news recently. Areas like Malvani are slowly becoming Dharavi slums. If it is to be saved, this area needs to be redeveloped together, the letter to Mumbai BJP President said. This letter has been sent to Mumbai Municipal Corporation for further action. After that, the Municipal Commissioner immediately called a meeting of all concerned and sought the opinions of the officials of the Urban Development Department and Slum Rehabilitation Authority regarding this planned project. Now a proposal will be prepared accordingly. Sources related to these developments said that the Dharavi Rehabilitation Authority has an independent existence and whether a separate authority will be created for Malvani or not will be decided at the government level.
Collective redevelopment of slum areas like Malvani needs to be initiated. Some developers have come forward to implement the slum rehabilitation scheme at this place. However, it may prevent redevelopment in the future. Instead, it is appropriate for the government to set up a special-purpose company and issue tenders like Dharavi for redevelopment. At present this project is at a very basic level and every slum dweller has to be surveyed. As per the current policy, it is mandatory to provide free rehabilitation flats to slum dwellers up to 1st January 2000 and paid rehabilitation flats to slum dwellers from 2nd January 2000 to 1st January 2011. Accordingly, the project will go ahead only after the survey. But necessary instructions were given in this meeting in that direction. It was also discussed in this meeting whether the concessions given in the Dharavi project can be given to this project as well. When Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal was asked about this, he confirmed the report. He said that the Malvani area will be developed like Dharavi.
