Builder hurdle seen in land gift for slums

MUMBAI: Bestowing full property rights to slumdwellers was proposed in the budget for which the Union government has sanctioned Rs 1,270 crore. The funds will be used for creating housing. But this is not the Centre's first attempt at such a scheme. In the '90s, the government initiated a scheme whereby the land slumdwellers lived on was given to them on lease.

In Mumbai, it led to the formation of 42 cooperative housing societies at Bandra, Dharavi and Chembur. They were the only beneficiaries. The scheme was replaced by the Slum Rehabilitation scheme where builders play a key role in the formation of a housing society and a slum going in for redevelopment.

In Mumbai, 58% of the population resides in slum. Adolph Tragler who heads an NGO called Slum Rehabilitation Society applauded the idea, but expressed doubts over its implementation given that the scheme will not go down well with the builder lobby. There is also the view that the Centre's funds are not likely to have much effect in Mumbai.

"It is not liked by the builder lobby as it might lead to slumdwellers developing their dwellings on their own stream rather than approaching builders," said Tragler.