State's proposed amendment may add to SRA's woes

SRA officials are in a tizzy with 50 per cent as there could be two developers coming forward for one scheme. Representation pic

A new amendment proposed by the state government to the Development Control Regulation, 1991, might be a cause of worry for the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). The Urban Development Department has proposed a modification by which the consent required by developers to carry out a slum rehabilitation scheme, will be reduced to 50 per cent from the existing 70 per cent. The officials are in a tizzy with 50 per cent as there could be two developers coming forward for one scheme. The modification has also not been welcomed by experts, as they called it a developer friendly move.

Suggestions sought
The government came out with the draft notification to reduce the consent last month. It has invited suggestions and objections from citizens to this draft and the last day to submit them is January 13. Following the due process of hearing those who have given suggestions or objections, the UD department may publish the notification with or without changes.

Experts claimed that the notification could mean an increase in number of litigations and held up projects. SRA officials could have a tough time issuing approvals for projects.

Negative move
Housing activist Chandrash­e­kh­ar Prabhu said, "This is a negative move for slum dwellers and the government is going by the recommendation of the developers. It would have been ideal if the government kept the consents away from the developer, and had pushed for a self-redevelopment model."

A senior SRA officer said, "As the suggestions' deadline is yet to end, we will be taking up the matter with the government authorities, and request them to make the consent 51 per cent, as we want to avoid conflict at the time of issuing Letter of Intimations, and this change will also help developers to attain a clear majority."

Deepak Kapoor, SRA CEO, was not available for comment.

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