Mumbai: Around seven lakh slum dwellers will benefit from the slum cluster redevelopment scheme, CM Devendra Fadnavis was informed at the 16th meeting of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) on Friday at the Sahyadri state guest house.“Considering the limited response to joint venture projects, stalled projects and unviable schemes, the govt has decided to promote integrated and sustainable development under the Slum Cluster Redevelopment scheme in line with the state housing policy, 2025,” said SRA chief Mahendra Kalyankar, adding the process of identifying slum cluster areas is currently underway.At the meeting, an additional Rs 97 crore was approved for the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamaraj Nagar redevelopment project undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). This has increased the total funding to the project to Rs 597 crore. Fadnavis instructed that a comprehensive review be undertaken of the rehabilitation tenements available under various slum rehabilitation schemes. Approval was also granted for Rs 333 crore for the Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe international memorial at Ghatkopar. Directions were issued to provide housing under the rental housing scheme to ineligible slum dwellers affected by the project to ensure expeditious completion of the memorial.Meanwhile, BMC engineers working with SRA will be absorbed as employees of the authority. This would be 30% of the total sanctioned strength of engineers, said SRA officials.The SRA is considered one of the most lucrative postings for engineers and reportedly there is lobbying to continue with the authority after completion of the three-year tenure. Many engineers have reportedly refused to return to the BMC even after a decade with the civic body.The CM granted approval for the absorption of engineers as well as clerical staff and Group D employees on contract with the authority.
