Efforts to improve slum areas in Pune and nearby regions are getting a boost with new rules allowing redevelopment within a larger 5 km radius, up from the previous 2 km limit. This change aims to make it easier to find suitable spaces. Despite this positive step, corruption is still a big problem, slowing down projects by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). The SRA CEO, Nilesh Gatne, is hopeful about the new rules speeding up projects, but notices have been sent to 20 developers facing delays. While 61 projects have been completed, 46 are still in progress, and the rules now empower the SRA to enforce deadlines and penalties to ensure efficiency.
In Pune and its neighbouring areas, the momentum of slum rehabilitation is set to intensify, fuelled by recently introduced guidelines that facilitate the identification of suitable spaces for these initiatives. The revised directives now allow for slum rehabilitation within a radius of 5 km from the slum periphery, a significant expansion compared to the previous limitation of 2 km. This widening of permissible locations is expected to streamline the process and address challenges associated with space acquisition for such projects.
Despite the positive shift in guidelines, the redevelopment of slums faces persistent obstacles, with corruption emerging as a prominent impediment. Activists emphasize that issues related to corruption continue to hinder the efficient execution of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects. Even with the updated guidelines, the implementation of numerous SRA projects remains mired in difficulties, stalling progress and hindering the timely realization of rehabilitation goals.
Nilesh Gatne, the CEO of the SRA, expressed optimism regarding the new regulations, stating that they would offer relief to the authority. He anticipates that the altered guidelines will inject momentum into pending projects, fostering their timely execution. The SRA has served notices to 20 developers responsible for delays in slum rehabilitation initiatives, with many of these projects experiencing setbacks of approximately five years.
As part of its jurisdiction, the SRA currently oversees 46 pending projects. While 61 projects have been successfully completed under its purview, the authority acknowledges the need to address the challenges associated with ongoing projects. The guidelines not only redefine the permissible distance for rehabilitation but also extend the timeframe allotted for project completion.
Crucially, the revised guidelines empower the SRA to enforce penalties or withdraw projects from developers who fail to meet stipulated deadlines. This measure aims to instill accountability and ensure that developers adhere to the designated timelines, thereby promoting efficiency and expediting the overall progress of slum rehabilitation initiatives in Pune and its surrounding areas.
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