Max illegal owners in Andheri

Mumbai: Andheri SRA scheme buildings have the highest number of illegal occupants with more than 2,000 cases found of unauthorized resale of flats, reveal a survey conducted by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). As per rules, flats received under SRA scheme cannot be sold to a third party till 10 years.

The state had decided to levy penalty on such occupants, but nothing has been implemented so far. According to the statistics possessed by The Asian Age, there are around 13,000 cases found in the entire city regarding illegal occupants in SRA schemes.

Western suburbs top the list with more than 5,000 cases. The SRA conducted a biometric survey to gather the data from around 80,000 tenements. The authority has forwarded the case to concerned competent authority depending upon on the ownership of land for further hearing.

 “The survey findings were submitted to the court as well as to the competent authorities who have the ownership of lands. The SRA schemes are constructed on collector, civic body and MHADA lands, these cases have been forwarded to respective authorities according to the ownership,” said a senior official from SRA.

He further added, “The authorities conduct the hearing of cases and accordingly weed out the illegal occupants.” The Bombay High Court in its recent hearing last month had directed the SRA to present a proposal on this matter.

According to the data, there are around 2,013 illegal occupants in Andheri area alone, out of which 688 cases were on schemes constructed on BMC lands. Meanwhile in the eastern suburbs, Ghatkopar records the highest number with 887 illegal occupants, preceded by Mulund with 724. Around 182 cases were also found in the Shivshahi Punarvasan Prakakalp (SPPL) a SRA project.