The state government has said that all schools operating from slums which come under the slum rehabilitation scheme will not be demolished as of now.
In a circular issued on February 28, the state’s housing department has asked the commissioner of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority as well as the additional collectors of the city and its suburbs to not pass any order for the demolition of any such schools, as it will affect the future of the students.
The order will be applicable to all those schools which have the requisite permission to run the business, the only exception being that they are run from slums or dilapidated buildings.
Nearly 400 such schools in Mumbai impart education to over one lakh children. Some of these schools have already been demolished. The order also gives temporary relief to gyms and other centres operating from such buildings.
The order will be effective until the government modifies some of the rules related to city development. The circular says that amendments in sections of the Maharashtra State and Town Structure Act, 1966, and Mumbai Development Control Rule, 1991, are underway.
Kapil Patil, MLC from the teachers’ seat, says, “The SRA demolishes schools without the required permissions. The decision aims to stop such activity until the government comes up with a policy.”
