Slum-dwellers rent out rehab, transit flats to earn extra bucks
Already in troubled waters, the Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) housing project in Kashimira may just be an illusion, as most of the slum dwellers have opted to give their flats on rent and even transit accommodations to build shanties in other localities.
To enhance the living standards of the urban poor, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) had identified two slum clusters Janta Nagar and Kranti Nagar for constructing 4,136 housing units, with a carpet area of 279 sq ft per unit.
As per the funding pattern the Centre and state shared 50 per cent and 30 per cent respectively with 9 per cent contribution from the MBMC and the remaining to be borne by the beneficiaries. However thanks to the inordinate delays the central government has already reduced the number of units from 4,136 to 2,351. In the past nine years, only 179 slum dwellers have been rehabilitated, however in startling revelation, around 128 are under the scanner for renting the homes out to earn an extra buck. Some have reportedly sold off the flats by executing memorandum of understanding with the help unscrupulous real estate agents. This despite clear rules which disallow beneficiaries from selling or renting out their homes.
“Subletting such nontransferable units to a third party is unlawful. While notices have already been issued to 128 people, steps will be soon taken to nullify allotments and register police complaints,” confirmed a senior civic officer.
“Subletting such nontransferable units to a third party is only unlawful but if slum dwellers do not occupy flats allotted to them, then it’s sheer waste of public money,” said social activistAnil Nautiyal. Illegal tenancy of transit flats and those built under the rehabilitation scheme to accommodate beneficiaries has become a widespread practice in the twin-city.