A recent inspection of over 3,000 of the tenements allotted to those evicted from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park shows that original allottees occupy only 2,227. The others were illegally sold,leased out or turned into commercial premises,says an affidavit filed by SGNP Director Dr Pandurang Munde in the Bombay High Court. Janhit Manch,a local NGO,had filed a PIL,based on newspepr reports,alleging that rehabilitated slum-dwellers from SGNP were selling their new tenements. Under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) rules,they cannot be sold or leased for at least 10 years. The affidavit confirmed the allegations. Of the 8,711 tenements allotted so far,forest officers inspected over 3,000 of which 2,227 were occupied by allottees. The affidavit says 329 had been leased out,34 sold,48 put to commercial use,and 531 were found locked. Government pleader Dhairyashil Nalavade said 34 tenements (which had been illegally sold) have been taken back and the allotment in those cases cancelled. Six criminal cases have been filed,he said. However,the High Court said that instead of putting more burden on courts,government may consider setting up an independent authority to handle such cases. A division bench of Justice F I Rebello and Justice J H Bhatia said,Perhaps the law should be amended to provide an independent authority to oversee the cases of (illegal) transfers in such projects. It will lead to speedy adjudication of such cases,the court said. The government has been directed to consider this and file a reply within four weeks.
