Slum'bai' vs Mumbai

It’s not a political move as many believe

The government has taken very apt and wise decision by extending the cut-off of slums regularisation to January 1, 2000, instead of earlier date January 1, 1995.

Approximately 60% of people are slum-dwellers in Mumbai. We all are aware that even though the government has not authorised all slums, people will continue living in Mumbai.

Government is also providing them the basic amenities such as garbage collection, sanitation, water facilities, medication but since they are not authorised dwellers, the government cannot take service charges from them.

So now when it has been legalised, government can get the service charge as Rs100 from four lakh authorised slum-dwellers. It means the government can receive Rs4 crore. If they would have taken this earlier then they could have given more revenue for more development of the city. There are some myths also associated among some category of people.

Many believe that by extending the cut-off date for slums means wastage of tax money given by Mumbaikars. Regarding this people must understand that there are less people who give direct taxes than people who give indirect taxes to the government. So there is no question that the slum-dwellers don't pay taxes as they contribute through indirect taxes.

However, authorisation of slums means there are chances of their contribution in the tax collection. People also say that this is a political stunt as assembly elections are nearing but this decision was actually required. We should be happy with this decision.
—Raju Korde, editor, Dharavi Times   

Slums are destroying city panorama, they should be razed down

The state has now offered carrot to all slums mushroomed before January 1, 2000, keeping an eye on the vote-bank for the assembly election due to be held October. Large slums sprawling in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune et al have spoiled the city structure. In the past, the state had issued an ordinance to regularise the slums four times effective from: February 4, 1976, January 1, 1980, January 1, 1985 and January 1, 1995. These decisions indicate how the politicians couldn't be strict towards unlawful hutments and destroyed city’s panorama as envisaged by the planners.   
—Achyut Railkar

Extension of cut-off dates is a bane to the city

The decision by the state cabinet to extend the cut-off date of the slums to January 1, 2000, from the earlier date of January 1, 1995, is a slap on the face of tax-paying citizen. Vilasrao Deshmukh made tall claims of turning Mumbai to Shanghai, but now Mumbai will aptly turn in to Slumbai. For those who have spent years residing in Mumbai, this decision will lead to many new problems. The state government's decision to regularise slums is a bane for our city. This will add to Mumbai's already overburdened infrastructure. The state cabinet is merely doing this to appease the slum voters.
—NS Rao

What will happen to the slums that came up after 2000?

Why does the government always brings up these issues before the elections? I'm sure the extension of the cut-off date for slums is just a political move. Either the government should have no cut-offs and regularise all the slums or graze them all. What will happen to the slums that came up after 2000? And even if the slum dwellers are rehabilitated, I'm sure they will give those houses on rent and go back to living in slums. People are fed up with government's fake concern about the citizens, be it slum-dwellers or the middle-class man as well as the city. Politicians have promised us a lot but have failed to fulfil any of those promises. We need strong decisions if we want to make this city a world-class city.
—Jitendra Bothra

We are against the  government’s decision

Maharashtra government has no right to regularise slums till 2000. Our NGO, Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs (IQOLMS), has filed a PIL in Bombay High Court, with the chief minister, SRA body, municipal commissioner as respondents. The PIL emphasises the large scale corrupt practices in the SRA, with many scams under investigations, and strongly opposes extension of limit for slums regularisation and free housing to slum-dwellers. The matter is sub judice.
Crores of rupees of tax payer's money are being siphoned off in this faulty scheme, which benefits only vested interests. Due to the slums, the city can be named as Slumbai which is a disgrace to the hard working service sector and legitimate property buyers of Mumbai.
We will take up this matter with the president of India and the UN Housing Rights Programme. If need be, we will petition to the Supreme Court, where this matter is pending.
—Waman Danait, Chairman, Forum for IQOLMS