Draft amendment touted to be pro-developers and negative move for slum dwellers

Draft amendment to reduce slum redevelopment consent to 50 per cent; experts call move pro-developer, anti-development

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There are times when an equal division profits none, and a new amendment proposed by the state government could just turn out to be a fine example of that. The Urban Development (UD) department has proposed a modification to the Development Control Regulation, 1991, intending to reduce the consent required by developers to carry out slum rehabilitation schemes from 70 per cent to 50 per cent of residents in an informal settlement.

This new draft amendment by the state government is a cause of worry for the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). Officials are now concerned that with 50 per cent there could be potentially two developers coming forward for one scheme. The SRA issued the draft notification to reduce consent from residents from 70 per cent to 50 per cent last month. It has also invited citizen suggestions and objections to this draft, to be submitted by January 13. Following a due process of hearing the ones who have given suggestions and objections, the UD department, with or without changes, may publish the final notification.

Experts are now labelling this a developer-friendly move. There is also the likelihood that these projects will be held up more than they are now, leading to an increase in litigation. Housing activist Chandrashekhar Prabhu, said, "This is a negative move for slum dwellers. The government is following the recommendation of developers. Seventy per cent consent at least gave a clear mandate to one builder but having 50 percent will mean more court cases and stall slum projects in the future. It would have been ideal if the government kept the consent away from the developer, and had pushed for a self-redevelopment model."

Moreover, half the residents in any given informal settlement may go to one developer, while the other half might opt for another developer. This would mean SRA officials will have a tough time while issuing approvals for a project. A senior SRA officer, not willing to be named, said, "As the suggestions and objections deadline is yet to end, we will be taking up the matter with the government authorities and request them to make the consent to 51 per cent, as we want to avoid any conflict at the time of issuing Letter of Intimations, and this change will also help the developers to attain clear majority." Deepak Kapoor, CEO, SRA, was not available for comment.

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