BMC offers compensation option to PAPs

Mumbai: Project-affected persons (PAPs) of municipal projects in the city can now get monetary compensation at market rates. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to offer them either an alternate tenement or monetary compensation.

The civic body has made major changes in its PAPs policy, which earlier provided only alternate tenements to PAPs. According to the new guidelines, while PAPs will be offered alternate accommodation, shopkeepers will be offered shops on the ground floor of commercial galas or monetary compensation at market rates. As per amendments to the policy, constructions dating back to before 1962 and that are eligible will be given 100 per cent compensation as per ready reckoner rates of the original area of the ground floor shop. Apart from this, protected slums will be offered 75 per cent compensation of the original area or 225 sq ft, whichever is less, as per ready reckoner rates of ground floor shops.

A senior civic official said, "The option of monetary compensation will be valid only for future PAPs or for those who haven't accepted an alternate location earlier. They will be informed about the option of monetary compensation. After that, they have to intimate the civic body about the option they have accepted within a month."

Shiv Sena corporator Mangesh Satamkar had demanded that changes in the policy be applicable to PAPs from January 1, 2017. In addition, the compensation be given as per prevalent ready reckoner rates. Both demands have been accepted by the civic administration.

The senior official said, “The option of providing monetary compensation will be beneficial for PAPs as many of them are reluctant to move into alternate accommodation.”