Maharashtra Plans SRA Area in Aarey Colony

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has announced its intention to declare 32,310 sq ft in Aarey Colony as a slum rehabilitation area despite a Bombay high court stay on construction here. The area is part of the 66-acre CTS no. 1 owned by the state dairy developm

BY Realty Plus
Published - Friday, 14 May, 2021

Maharashtra Plans SRA Area in Aarey Colony

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has announced its intention to declare 32,310 sq ft in Aarey Colony as a slum rehabilitation area despite a Bombay high court stay on construction here. The area is part of the 66-acre CTS no. 1 owned by the state dairy development department. The SRA has also decided to declare similar areas in Dindoshi and Malad (E). Satish Lokhande, SRA CEO, said: “We have issued the notice inviting objections and suggestions.” Activist Zoru Bhathena said construction in Aarey would require HC permission. Pointing out that the area is part of the eco-sensitive zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), advocate Godfrey Pimenta said: “The process itself violates the HC order. The SRA may claim it is not construction, but it is a process that would eventually allow construction.” He added that in the new Development Plan 2034, the BMC has earmarked 43 hectares (107.5 acres) for rehabilitation of slumdwellers and tribals from Aarey and SGNP. Advocate Zaman Ali said the HC had disallowed all SRA schemes in a 2003 PIL by NGO Citi space. “In 2014, in a modified order in the same matter, the HC said the project proponent would need to obtain objections from the NGO and make an application before the court for the scheme to be implemented. In another PIL in 2016, the HC said there can be no SRA scheme in Aarey,” he said.