RPI MP Ramdas Athavale has vowed to start a movement to legalise slums till 2014 giving protection to slums dwellers, especially in Mumbai.
RPI MP Ramdas Athavale has vowed to start a movement to legalise slums till 2014 giving protection to slums dwellers, especially in Mumbai. Adding that he would create a statewide front to deal with the issue, he said the decision if taken by the government would benefit over 3 lakh families in Mumbai alone.
However, the demand by the RPI leader, who is part of the BJP-led government, is contrary to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ stand on legalising slums. Mr Fadnavis had already sought legal opinion to increase the cut-off date of illegal slums to December 31, 2000 against the current date January 1, 2000.
Speaking at a gathering of slum dwellers at P D’Mello Road on Friday, Mr Athavale said he would create a statewide front to deal with the issue. “The slums till 2014 should be legalised and a slum protection conference will be organised soon,” the MP told the slum dwellers.
He also said he would organise a slum protection conference in Mumbai and fight to get legal recognisation for the slums till 2014.
Mr Fadnavis had, on December 12, announced in the legislature that his government had sought legal opinion to increase the cut-off date of illegal slums to December 31, 2000. The CM also said that the state government is in talks with the central agencies like defence and railways to provide permanent housing to people who have encroached upon central government lands.
The CM made the announcements while replying to a calling attention motion moved by BJP MLA Parag Alavani regarding rehabilitation of slum dwellers from the Mumbai airport land. “The government has authorised the slums that have come up till the year 2000 as per the high court’s order. Now we are checking if the cut off date can be considered December 31, 2000 instead of January 1, 2000,” the CM had told the house.
The CM further said that while the slums that came before 2000 have been authorised, the government is also committed towards providing a permanent house to every slum dweller in the city by the year 2022.
This was not the first time the demand for extending cut off date was made by a politician. During the Congress-NCP regime, the cut off date was increased from 1995 to 2000.
