Schools rebuilt under SRA scheme will get more area

Under existing laws,schools in slum sprawls are allowed to be reconstructed using only the existing built-up area. This provision of maintaining the same construction area as before is also applicable for religious structures,dispensaries and gymnasiums.

Once the amendment comes through,developers taking up SRA schemes will have to rebuild schools as per standards norms applicable to all educational institutions i.e. 38 sqm per classroom or 0.8 sqm per student,whichever is larger. Accordingly,if there are 100 students in a class,the area per classroom has to be at least 80 sqm.

Patil pointed out that currently there are 450 private aided schools in slum settlements across Mumbai. Most of these are ground-plus-one storey structures.

“Under the SRA scheme,only the ground floor structures and not the upper floors are taken into account during reconstruction. Due to this,in most cases the schools are demolished and the developer hands over a 269 sq ft tenement post reconstruction,adversely affecting the education of the children in the locality,” said Patil,who has been raising the issue for the past four years.

The state government is soon expected to issue a notice under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act to initiate the process of amending Section 33(10) of DCR that deals with rules for SRA schemes.

A senior state government official said the amendment will benefit disadvantaged slum children as they will now benefit from spacious classrooms equipped with laboratories and all facilities on par with other schools.

“On the flipside,since the developer’s free sale component is directly proportional to the rehabilitation area,it will let builders construct more than what they are allowed at present. This is bound to increase the density of construction in SRA schemes,” said the official.