SRA issues eviction notices to ineligible beneficiaries
RESPITE Pankeshah Baba Dargah project had 115 ineligible beneficiaries
In a major respite to over 160 residents who were denied permanent residency, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority has directed its officials to take strict action against ineligible beneficiaries of one of its projects. The authority has issued notices to the 115 ineligible beneficiaries to vacate their flats within a week.
Acting on the complaints of original residents, the deputy collector conducted a review of all documents submitted for eligibility.
Pankeshah Baba Dargah rehabilitation project had 115 ineligible beneficiaries which were declared by the deputy collector after it was revealed that they submitted fake documents. The inquiry report further stated that the documents of nearly 40 residents are being scrutinised and their eligibility will be declared soon.
The entire project was mired in controversy following several irregularities that were reported. From adding ineligible beneficiaries for proving a majority on the plot to using sub-standard material for the construction of a rehab building, the shoddy project has several irregularities which left over 160 families homeless.
More than a month after Lokayukta M L Tahilyani’s direction to the competent authority and SRA to take necessary action against fake beneficiaries before July 12, the authority has now issued notices to the ineligible beneficiaries. A resident had revealed, “The developer has received permission for plot no. 151, which he has developed and housed 280 out of the total 557 residents of the slum, but he has forcibly demolished structures of plot no. 153 and 155 as well.”
The resident alleged that the developer in connivance with SRA officials added ineligible beneficiaries in order to show a clear majority for the project since 70 per cent of the population should agree for the rehabilitation scheme to be implemented. While the authority has now removed ineligible beneficiaries, there has been no confirmation on rehabilitating the original 160 residents.