Increase size of slum rehab flats: Maharashtra minister

The Maharashtra Government must increase the size of slum rehab flats from 25 sq metres (269 sq feet) to 30 sqmetres (323 sq feet) carpet, said Minister of State for Housing, Ravindra Waikar.

According to a published media report, Waikar said the Prime Minister’s ‘Housing for All – 2022’ scheme is to be implemented in urban areas of the state through the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. “There is a discrepancy in the flat size for the two categories. In both cases, housing is to be created through Government-private agency tie-ups. This discrepancy should be done away with,” he added.

The report said Waikar, who is also a Shiv Sena leader and legislator from Jogeshwari, said under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, the flat size to be provided to the economically weaker section as affordable housing is 323 sq feet.

The State Government has now extended the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme to all urban areas in the state. Earlier it was being implemented only in Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and Pimpri-Chinchwad.