The state government has promised that the first phase of rehabilitating slumdwellers occupying nearly 250 acres of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) will be completed by Diwali this year,following a fresh survey,starting October 5,to identify slumdwellers eligible for free rehousing. Guardian Minister for Mumbai suburbs Arif Naseem Khan said on Monday the process of identifying those eligible will be free of corruption. A committee under the chairmanship of suburban collector Nirmalkumar Deshmukh will be formed to oversee the survey and the rehabilitation process. About 7,000 homes for these residents are now ready in Kurla; amenities like a school,post-office,police station and places of worship will be provided within the rehabilitation colony,Khan said. The first phase of rehabilitation will include critical pockets of slums such as Jari Mari,Sandesh Nagar and Kranti Nagar. HDIL is building 17,000 homes of 269 sq ft (carpet area) each in Kurla (West) on a plot earlier owned by Premier Co. A grievance redressal system will be put in place once the list of eligible slumdwellers is published. Another 7,000 homes are being built in Kurla (East). The process of identifying and obtaining space for the remaining slumdwellers is under way.
