In a cabinet meeting chaired by Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, the ministers decided to set up an independent Slum Rehabilitation Authority for eight Municipal Corporations and seven Municipalities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) which excludes the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The meeting was held on Wednesday 26 August 2020, and it is said that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Slum Rehabilitation Authority (MMR-SRA) will be headquartered in Thane.
The project will be implemented across a total of eight Municipal Corporations in MMR which include Thane, Panvel, Kalyan-Dombivali, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayander, Ulhasnagar and Ambernath, Badlapur,
Approval was given to implement a single Slum Rehabilitation Authority comprising of seven Municipal Councils including Alibag, Paen, Khopoli, Matheran and Karjat.
There are a large number of slums in this Municipal Corporation as well as in the Municipal / Municipal Council area. Despite the need for redevelopment of these slums, the residents have been living in these slums for the last several years with inadequate amenities. However, the implementation of this program will help in improving their lifestyle with much-needed facilities.
As per reports, recommendations made by a study group to implement a single slum rehabilitation authority for the MMR region was accepted in principle. However, an independent study group has been appointed under the leadership of the Principal Secretary of Housing, which will aim at implementing the slum rehabilitation scheme for other major cities in Maharashtra.
A team of members will be heading the project, and appointment of officers and staff members to handle the administrative and technical matters will be planned soon. Proposals for the same have been submitted and a financial provision of INR 200 crore has been made for this.