Slumbai

SLUMBAI

The New Link Road Forum has been in the forefront in fighting to remove encroachments. The PAC has also confirmed our findings:

PAC: Govt turned city into Slumbai

Ashish Roy TNN

Nagpur: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC)’s 2010-11 report has slammed the state government for failing to stop rampant encroachment on government land in Mumbai. The 25-member committee, headed by BJP MLA Girish Bapat, pointed out that the PAC’s 1994 report had suggested several measures for prevention of encroachments. However, the government ignored them.

Slums puncture water mains to pilfer water

Addressing a press conference, Bapat said, “We have suggested strong measures to prevent encroachments, similar to those recommended in 1994.”
Turning to revenue loss of the government, Bapat said that the revenue would have increased by over Rs 2,000 crore had the required measures been taken. “PAC has pegged loss of sales tax revenue between Rs 400 and 500 crore, excise duty between Rs 1,200 and 1,500 crore and mining royalty between Rs 300 crore and 400 crore, in the last few years.”

Slums also cause immense air pollution and damage health

The committee has come down heavily on the housing department for its failure to submit information sought by it and has recommended action against the concerned officers. PAC had asked the Mumbai municipal commissioner to coordinate with the housing department and get the department’s report submitted to it. However, the commissioner has not informed the PAC about action taken by it, the report has tersely commented.
The panel found out that the number of slum dwellers who had photo-identity documents was 1.13 lakh. However as per the BMC records, the number was 1.58 lakh. It has suggested that the BMC should prepare a separate record for the number of encroachers on government land so that the actual figure could be arrived at.