Maharashtra: New policy to add 1.5 lakh units; state to release additional built-up area under SRA scheme: DNA

In a move that will open up the housing market, the Maharashtra government has decided to give 500 sq ft of built-up area against the current 350 sq ft to slum-dwellers and tenants in areas being developed by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority undertaken schemes.

"A provision for larger houses has been made in the proposed housing policy," Ravindra Waikar, minister of state for housing, said.

The additional houses after rehabilitating the slum dwellers will be sold in the open market at affordable prices," he told dna.

dna is in exclusive possession of the draft copy of the policy. "We are going to use this model, so that tenants and slum-dwellers can avail maximum benefits. By redeveloping slums, we are aiming to get 1.50 lakh of houses with a floor space index of 3 each five years," Waikar said.

The rehabilitation and sale ratio in redevelopment schemes will be 60:40. "The ratio of affordable housing for the economically weaker section (EWS), lower income group (LIG) and middle income group (MIG) will be be 30:20:3,.

In case land is to be used as collateral to fund redevelopment projects consent of 51% eligible slum dwellers/tenants must be mandatory.

The draft policy further says that in case of slums on state or central government land, the incentive to the developer shall be additional floor space index and transfer of development rights by state.

Officials said that maintenance is the biggest issue in redeveloped slums. "Slum-dwellers do move in to high-rises but soon convert their high-rises into vertical slums due to poor maintenance and non- effective management. Hence, buildings in resettled areas should not be high-rise buildings," an official said on the condition of anonymity.

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.