After Mazgaon building crash, civic body fast-tracks plan to build hsg units for conservancy workers.
The improvement committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday approved a proposal seeking to use 4 Floor Space Index (FSI) under the Ashray scheme to construct staff quarters for its conservancy staff. The proposal will now be sent to state government for its approval.
The civic body put the process of redevelopment of staff quarters on fast track after the Dockyard Road building collapse, where employees of the Markets department lived. On September 27, 61 people were killed after the 33-year-old building, which was owned by the civic body, came crashing down.
While illegal alterations on the ground floor were cited as the reason for the collapse, the incident also exposed the inefficiency on the part of the BMC to protect its own people.
As per the proposal, the civic body plans to construct staff quarters for its 28,800 conservancy staff under the Ashray scheme, which means redevelopment or reconstruction on plots to provide quarters to the conservancy staff working in the solid waste management department.
Of the 28,800 conservancy staff, 6374 employees are residing in 39 staff quarters spread across the city but most of them are in dilapidated condition.
“With the existing FSI and unavailability of plots, it is not possible to construct the required staff quarters. So, we are seeking 4 FSI which will help us to construct the staff quarters on the existing plots,” said a senior civic official.
The official added that the civic body has proposed to redevelop six staff quarters in the next financial year and a budgetary provision of has also been proposed for the same. “We plan to construct quarters for all conservancy workers in next six years with an estimated budget of Rs 1,800 crore,”added the official.
“The civic body should ensure that the employees should not go to court on trivial issues which will halt the redevelopment of the these housing units,” said Surendra Bagalkar, a Shiv Sena corporator.
Ram Barot, chairman of the improvement committee said, “Since the proposal requires the amendment in the Development Control Rules, we will send it to state government requesting for its approval at the earliest.” He added that the staff quarters of the other departments should be fast-tracked on the similar lines.
“It is a good policy. But, the construction work should be expedited and be completed within stipulated time for the benefit of employees. Even, the priority should be given to those employees who are senior most or serving for decades,” said Gyanmurti Sharma, a BJP corporator.
He also suggested that civic body should construct a health centre for the welfare of the conservancy staff given the nature of their work.
All about the housing proposal
28,800 Number of quarters to be built
6 years Expected time to complete the project
Currently, 6,374 employees reside in 39 quarters spread across the city but most of them are in dilapidated condition
Rs1,800cr Estimated budget for the project
4 FSI sought by the corporation in its proposal
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