Indian Express 21.10.2010
State bans sale of SRA flats for 10 yrs
Express News Service Tags : SRA scheme , Maharashtra Slum Areas Posted: Thu Oct 21 2010, 00:38 hrs
Mumbai: The state government has prohibited transfer of flats given under the SRA scheme for ten years and warned such transfers will be cancelled and the tenement taken over by the government. These changes were approved by the state cabinet as part of amendments to the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act , 1971.The decision was taken to prevent slumdwellers, who get a tenement, from selling it and moving elsewhere to settle in another slum. Besides, cessed buildings, chawls or buildings which have been included in the urban development scheme will not be declared as slums and not be included in the SRA schemes. After discussion with relevant government and semi-government authorities on which the SRA scheme is being implemented, the land will be transferred to the SRA which will then transfer it to Cooperative Housing Agency.
The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to introduce the “Environmental Service Scheme” (ESS) in 50 schools in 12 districts on a trial basis in an attempt to inculcate environment friendly attitude among students. This ESS is being implemented in lines with the National Service Scheme taught in secondary and higher secondary schools. Accordingly, 50 students from Class VII to XII from each of the selected school will be made aware of environmental concerns and asked to get involved in spreading awareness and tackling the concerns at local level.
Schools from rural, tribal and urban centres are currently being asked to participate on voluntary basis for which the central government notified centre for excellence in Pune, the Centre for Environment Education as an implementation agency. Each school will have one official who will co-ordinate implementation of the ESS for a period of three years.
