SRD is finally heading somewhere

MUMBAI, July 9: After three years of repeated attempts to kick-start the Slum Redevelopment SRD scheme, the state government has now sudde...

MUMBAI, July 9: After three years of repeated attempts to kick-start the Slum Redevelopment SRD scheme, the state government has now suddenly gone into an overdrive fuelled mainly by the dread of approaching elections. Just months after the setting up of the ambitious Shivshahi Punarvasan Prakalp SSPP, an independent body to oversee SRD8217;s implementation, the State Housing Department has been buzzing with activity.

Displaying amazing pace in trying to achieve its target of building 1,25,000 free houses for slum dwellers by the year 2000, the state government has already finalised a list of 30 contractors. The proposed Shivshahi Punarvasan Company with equity participation of Rs 300 crore each of MHADA and MMRDA, will be headed by G S Gill as its managing director. Gill, a member-secretary of MSEB, has a reputation of being a tough task-master.

Gill this evening convened a high-power meeting at State Housing Secretary V P Raja8217;s chamber in Mantralaya to discuss various policy options in relation to thescheme. Those who attended included Swadheen Kshatriya, vice president, MHADA; Gautam Chaterjee, CEO, SRA; S S Sandhu, CEO, MHADA Mumbai; and Jayant Gaikwad, Deputy secretary, Housing Department.

Sandhu later told Express Newsline that the selected contractors see box were short-listed from among those who had responded to advertisements placed by MHADA in March. Companies which had experience in dealing with projects worth Rs 5 to 10 crore and had a annual turnover of over Rs 5 crore were selected.

These contractors have been divided into two groups 8211; those who will execute big projects Rs 50 crore and above and the ones who will handle small projects over Rs 20 crore and below Rs 50 crore. There is also a third category which includes sundry projects8217;. These contracts are likely to go Sena and BJP well-wishers.

But the state government8217;s most significant achievement probably is that it has finally managed to attract private construction firms8217; attention. The lukewarm response of constructionmajors was the one reason why the scheme had not taken off so far.

Meanwhile, the city collector8217;s office too has been busy following orders to conduct surveys of all slums existing on government lands. SSPP officials said the scheme would initially target slums existing on government, BMC and MHADA-owned land only. Of the total 23,000 slums pockets in Mumbai housing over 60 lakh hutments, around 50 per cent are on private land.