The target is to build 1.5 lakh houses to relocate project-affected people and slum-dwellers. (Source: File) The target is to build 1.5 lakh houses to relocate project-affected people and slum-dwellers. (Source: File)

The state government plans to avail private salt pan land to take forward its affordable and slum-free Mumbai mission by September-October 2016. The target is to build 1.5 lakh houses to relocate project-affected people and slum-dwellers – and also generate nearly one-third of the housing needs for middle- and higher-income category to make the project financially feasible. “The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s new development plan will open up the no-development zone, paving the way for salt pan development,” said a source.

Concerns over relaxations in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) are also being addressed through massive plantation drives and creation of alternative landscapes to tackle the problems of flooding. “To begin with, we are in talks with private salt pan landowners spread over 600 hectares,” said a source in the housing ministry.

Negotiations are under way on providing additional floor space index incentives to the private landholders and, in lieu, ask them to provide bulk houses to partly accommodate PAP/slum-dwellers. The government believes almost 1.5 lakh houses can become a reality on salt pan on the non-dispute private land-holding.

While acknowledging that the Centre-state dispute over salt pan land-sharing was still unresolved, an official

argued, “The process with the Union ministry of urban development, defence ministry and railway ministry is under way. The state government has set a December 2016 timeline to take the matter forward. It believes both the Centre and the state should set aside the parcel that is legally disputable. The rest non-disputable stretch, which works to 750-900 hectares, should be availed through mutual-sharing to facilitate the housing projects.”

The total salt pan land is estimated at 2,177 hectares. The land is held partly by private land owners, partly by the Centre and the state government, and partly encroached by slum-dwellers. The land given on lease for salt-making also needs to be addressed because of old tenants. The lease ends in July 2016.

“Under ‘housing for all 2022’, we have to explore all options to generate adequate housing stock. Apart from the government-owned Mhada, we have to rope in the services of the private land holders for the flagship project,” said a source in the housing ministry.

In addition, the ministry has identified 800 hectares of land patches in the extended suburbs along the eastern and

western stretches, including Panvel, Virar, Bhayander and Thane to push its affordable-housing schemes.

Another project being pursued relates to redevelopment of transit camps. Officials estimate the total occupants in transit camps does not exceed 18,000. This includes a sizeable number of illegal occupants.

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