Pre-2000 cut-off date for eligibility on slum rehabilitation: DNA

In its proposed draft for slum development scheme, the state government has cleared the air over the cut-off date for slum dwellers' rehabilitation. The policy says that the government will only consider pre-2000 slums eligible for rehabilitation.

"This cut-off date will be non-negotiable," the draft policy reads, also mentioning that schemes of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) should be aligned with the city's master plan.

"All privately owned land in slum areas should be acquired and compensation be given for private persons in lieu of their right," it stated.

Compensating the public land owning authorities to the extent of 25% of the land's Ready Reckoner (RR) value should be followed for private owners as well. This may be offered to owners as a price through private negotiations within the scope as per the government's guidelines.

"If this rate is unacceptable to owners, then land acquisition methodology (suitably revised by amending the Act) given in the Slum Act should be be followed. The land acquisition is to be taken on a pro-active basis and no waiting for the proposals on the said slum land ad infinitum. A fixed time limit may be determined by amendment to the SRA Act," stated in the policy.

Also, a government authority may give a deadline to the owner to initiate the scheme and then move ahead proactively. The policy clarifies that the eligibility criteria should be made unambiguous and easy to implement.

"The eligibility will be based on only voters list of 2000 and eligible families will not increase beyond this. If a family has entered into a transaction with some family that has mention in 2000 voters list, the new entrant, and not the old one, should be declared eligible," says the draft, adding that occupants of upper floors and mezzanine floors are presently ineligible.

The draft makes it clear that the layout of the building and the fact that it dates to the pre-2000 period is important while allotting the house, rather than the occupants themselves.

"These families will be offered ownership on payment of full purchase value, or rental hire-cum-purchase option through rental tenements. These families will not have a claim for in-situation rental. Once they have paid for 15 years rental, they will be allotted the same dwelling on ownership," it says.

If the consent of residents and owners is not received in time, the bidding process among eligible developers shall be taken forward in a transparent manner.

Chief fire officer also succumbs to burn injuries: Times Of India

MUMBAI: Chief fire officer Sunil Nesarikar who had suffered severe burns at Kalbadevi blaze on May 9, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. Nesarikar, 51, is the fourth senior fire official of the Mumbai fire brigade to have died after sustaining burn injuries while inspecting the five-decade four-storey Gokul Niwas on May 9.

Station officer Mahendra Desai and assistant divisional officer S W Rane had died on the day of the fire, while deputy chief fire officer Sudhir Amin died on May 14.

Nesarikar was admitted to National Burns Centre at Airoli immediately after the fire and his condition started deteriorating from Saturday evening.

He is survived by his mother, wife Jayashree and son Sidhant.

Nesarikar condition is known to have started deteriorating from Saturday evening. He was admitted to the National Burns Centre hospital at Airoli on May 9 and was under treatment. Nesarikar had recently returned from Finland where he had gone for testing of a high end 90-feet hydraulic platform the Mumbai Fire Brigade is expected to get.

A seven-member panel of experts headed by Sanjay Mukherjee, additional municipal commissioner (projects), is inquiring into the Gokul Niwas fire. The panel has been directed by the BMC to conduct a detailed inquiry and present its report in three weeks. The report is expected to be presented this week.

Under the terms of reference, the panel will look into the cause of the fire and also suggest long-term measures for improving the brigade. "Most of the factual information relating to the incident has been put out before the panel with the members deliberating on it," a senior fire official said.

"He will be given a guard of honour at the Byculla fire station and Chandanwadi crematorium," said a senior fire official.

Recently, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta had told TOI that a complete revamp of the Mumbai Fire Brigade is on the cards. A revamp is likely to mean looking at several issues pertaining to the existing structure and functioning of Mumbai fire brigade and putting things in order. These include looking at purchase procedures, issues pertaining to human resources and operational and training issues.

The BMC has now made it mandatory for firemen and officials to get health check-ups done with the procedure expected to be completed by July 31. Civic officials said it would help in the long run. Sources from the civic body said plans for a medical check-up were in the pipeline for long but had met with stiff resistance from certain fire unions. However, the Kalbadevi incident has given the civic body an opportunity to make medical check-ups mandatory.