Mumbai to Slumbai

                  The decision of the Maharashtra government to
                       permit vertical expansion of slums in
                   Mumbai has made the apolitical but conscious
                    class aware of the threat to the existence of
                         this metropolis, writes Parag Rabade
     The recent decision by the Congress-led Democratic Front government of Maharashtra
     to allow raising of permissible height of slums in the metropolis to 14 feet has outraged
     the civic conscious people and the opposition parties. This decision has the potential to
     convert the commercial capital of India into a virtual slum. This patently populist
     decision, clearly aimed appeasing lakhs of slum dwellers, mostly migrants from Uttar
     Pradesh and Bihar, has been taken with an eye on the municipal elections in February
     2002. Many fear that the move will not only trigger a vertical expansion of the slums but
     will further encourage influx of migrants into this overpopulated city.
     The decision was taken early this week at a meeting attended by Chief Minister Vilasrao
     Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. In that meeting, Minister of
     State for Home Kripashankar Singh, who champions the cause of UP and Bihari
     migrants, made a strong demand for permitting upward expansion of slums. He was
     supported by senior Congress leader Virendra Bakshi, a Congress MLA from
     Muslim-dominated Trombay and Minister of State for Housing Nawab Malik. All these
     members of the Slum Development Authority thrive on the support of migrants.
     Their demand was, however, opposed by officials of the Urban Development
     department, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and
     the Housing Ministry. However, their opposition was brushed aside and it was decided
     to grant permission for raising the height of slums from 10 feet to 14 feet, which would
     mean the slum dwellers will be able to construct an additional mezzanine floor.
     The decision was not officially announced because the code of conduct for municipal
     elections is in force.
     At the press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting, Mr Deshmukh said the
     government would seek clearance from the State Election Commission (SEC) before
     taking a formal decision in the cabinet. Of course, it will not be difficult for Mr
     Deshmukh to get cabinet nod as Mr Bhujbal too was present at the meeting and
     endorsed the decision. The decision will come into effect only after a regular notification
     or GR is issued by the government.
     Suppose the SEC refuses permission to the government to issue notification till the
     elections are over, it still benefits the ruling coalition, especially Congress. The party
     sources said the fact that the Congress-led government would eventually grant
     permission for increase in height of slums is enough to persuade slum dwellers to vote
     for that party in the ensuing municipal polls. For Congress, such a tilt is essential as 60
     per cent of the city population lives in slums and for three decades, the civic body,
     Brihanmumbai Municipal
     Corporation (BMC), with an annual budget larger than many states in the country, is
     controlled by Shiv Sena. Naturally, the opposition BJP and Shiv Sena, especially the
     latter with its stronghold over the city, described it as dirty politics. Even independent
     observers have said that the cynical move on part of the Congress shows it can sacrifice
     Mumbai’s civic interests and the civic sense on the altar of vote politics.
     It also casts doubts on the credibility of the government, which has banned all slums
     erected after the cut off date of January 1, 1995. An ordinance has already been issued
     making all slum structures raised after the cut off date as illegal and enjoins upon the
     civic and government authorities to demolish such structures. According to secretariat
     officials, hardly a single demolition has been carried out after the ordinance was
     promulgated, but the government has found urgency in permitting raising the height of
     existing slums.
     By an estimate, 12 lakh slum dwelling families are to benefit from the latest pampering
     by the government. It means either the existing slum dwellers will get additional space to
     live, as the decision ostensibly aims, or worst, it will facilitate an influx of 12 lakh families
     with living space ready for them.
     The government, it is explained, has, therefore, put certain restrictions before extending
     the benefit of raise in height. The slum dwellers will be allowed to add a mezanine floor.
     The floor can be used for residential purpose only and will have an access by way of a
     staircase from within the slum only. The decision bars letting out the floor on rent. Also,
     a slum dwelling family will get only one photo pass and thus can add only one floor.
     There will be no multiplying the benefit.
     Civic observers point out that despite these restrictions, one can easily be able to sub let
     the floor with proper understanding between the slum holder and the new migrant family.
     In addition, there will be tremendous burden on civic authorities to provide various
     amenities like water. Only recently, seven children died in a major fire that engulfed a
     slum colony in Bandra. The fire could not be controlled for long time as fire tenders had
     no access to reach near the spot. Increase in height of slums will, thus, add to the
     nightmares of fire brigade department.
     The decision shows that Congress is hellbent on wresting the control of BMC, even if it
     means destroying the city. Past history shows that Congress was never strong in this
     metropolis and did little to improve the civic facilities or solve the problems during its
     long years in power. It was left for Shiv Sena-BJP government to take a number of
     decisions for the betterment of life in Mumbai, by way of constructing 55 flyovers,
     setting up Mumbai Railway Development Corporation (MRDC) and constructing
     subways, besides restricting growth of slums. The DF government, on its part, has also
     decided to dissolve the Sena-controlled BMC on account of financial irregularities, but if
     the same criterion is to be applied for dissolution, then a number of Congress-controlled
     civic bodies, such as Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), need to be dissolved first.
     The cynical decision by Congress government has stirred the city’s apolitical but
     conscious class to the threat to the existence of this metropolis. Thanks to the
     unchecked migration, the city normally receives 350 families per day, mostly from UP
     and Bihar, who raise new slums and add to the over-stretched civic facilities. If the latest
     decision is implemented, slums will start competing with regular structures in height and
     in short time Mumbai will look like a Slumbai.