Week after Chembur fire, SRA tells developer to expedite rehabilitation

Now, nudged to action after the fatal mishap, the official said that the developer has been directed to speed up the redevelopment works at the notified area.

Meanwhile, an official from the authority said that the members who survived the fire have now been provided accommodation under a rehabilitation scheme. (Express File Photo)

Over a week after seven members of a family were killed in a blaze at a ground-plus-two storey structure in Chembur’s Siddharth Colony, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) instructed the developer, who had been roped in for the redevelopment of the colony in 2021, to fast track the rehabilitation scheme work.

Meanwhile, an official from the authority said that the members who survived the fire have now been provided accommodation under a rehabilitation scheme.

On October 6, seven people including three minors were killed after a level-I fire broke out in a ground-plus-two storey chawl. All the victims hailed from the same Gupta family, who had been residing in the chawl for at least the past 40 years.

Only two members of the family — the 70-year-old patriarch of the family Chedilal Gupta and his eldest son Dharamdev Gupta — survived.

Also Read | Sleeping residents caught unawares as fire broke out in Chembur chawl

The site of the fire, officials from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, had been notified by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority since 2021 at least.

In a letter of intent (LoI) dated August 2021, the SRA had issued the principal approval for the proposed slum rehabilitation scheme on the Chembur plot for “Siddharth Colony Vikas Seva Sangh Housing Federation SRA CHS”.

However, the project had remained stalled over the past three years, leaving residents of Siddharth Colony, a cluster of more than 3,000 huts and shanties, to continue to reside in their old homes.

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According to a senior official from the SRA, the project had been stalled owing to the pending rents, which delayed further approvals.

Also Read | Three minors among 7 of family killed in fire at Chembur chawl

Furthermore, amid failure to pay premiums, the SRA had also issued a “stop work” notice to the developer, in the past.

“The house where the fire was reported was the original jhopdi and had not been taken up for the scheme works so far. Currently, the scheme for redevelopment in the Siddharth Colony area is in the initial stages. Demolition has happened in some parts but the scheme is yet to take off entirely, owing to further approvals,” the official told The Indian Express.

Responding to questions about the delay, he added, “Firstly, there is an issue with regards to the outstanding SRA premium. Owing to the pending premiums, the SRA had issued a stop work notice to the developer in the past, prior to the fire. Besides this, even the rent is pending from the developers, which has stalled the further approvals for the scheme.”

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Now, nudged to action after the fatal mishap, the official said that the developer has been directed to speed up the redevelopment works at the notified area.

Earlier, during his visit to the charred home at Siddharth Colony on October 6, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had said that a meeting would be convened to take appropriate actions, if the slum rehabilitation work had been stalled.

Meanwhile, following the fire, the SRA has provided accommodation to the surviving members under a rehabilitation scheme. Chedilal and Dharamdev had earlier sought refuge at their relative’s home in Kurla.

In a recently concluded investigation, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) found that the fire was triggered owing to a lit diya (lamp), which later spread due to the presence of flammable objects like kerosene and palm oil, stored in the house.

Nayonika Bose

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

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