Yerawada residents allege forged SRA consent, demand action against developer

Strong opposition has emerged to a proposed Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme in Jadhavnagar, Yerawada. More than 200 residents of the area marched to the SRA office. They demand criminal action against developer Lalit Sakhare and Paschim Builders. The residents allege fraud in the proposed redevelopment scheme.

The protest was organised by the Jadhavnagar Anti-SRA Kruti Samiti. The protesters say the developer tried to push the scheme forward using forged documents and fabricated consent. In their view, no redevelopment scheme affecting poor slum dwellers can be imposed by misleading the authorities.

The agitation had an immediate effect. An order was issued to stop the ongoing survey of the disputed Jadhavnagar scheme. A joint hearing of the SRA chief executive officer and the slum dwellers was also promised for next week.

The protesters' biggest demand was the scrapping of the 51 per cent consent requirement for SRA projects. They want the earlier 70 per cent threshold reinstated. A local leader alleged that lowering the consent threshold opened the way to misuse and that developers benefited from it. He demanded that the government withdraw the 51 per cent provision immediately and restore the 70 per cent condition.

The same leader also demanded that a criminal case be registered against the developer over the allegedly forged documents submitted and the disputed consent. He said that if justice was not delivered at the proposed hearing, the residents would intensify their agitation.

Former corporator and lawyer Ayub Shaikh sharply criticised the attempt to push the project forward on dubious papers. He said, "A developer who misleads the SRA by submitting forged documents and fabricated consent letters will not be spared." Shaikh made it clear that residents would oppose any redevelopment process imposed by wrongful means.

Local representatives Suhas Tingre and Ravi Tingre also joined the protesters. They assured the residents that an effort would be made to ensure poor slum dwellers are not deprived of their rights.

Seeing the crowd and the growing anger, SRA secretary Sheetal Nikam met the protesters. In the talks, she announced that the ongoing survey work on the disputed Jadhavnagar scheme would be stopped immediately. The protesters were also assured that a joint hearing of the SRA CEO and the affected slum dwellers would be held next week to examine the dispute.

The halt to the survey has set back the immediate pace of the disputed scheme. But residents are not satisfied with a temporary stay alone. They want the alleged fraud investigated, responsibility fixed and criminal action initiated if the allegations are proved.

For the slum dwellers of Jadhavnagar, the question is whether redevelopment will proceed on genuine consent and verified documents, or whether their homes and right to rehabilitation will be staked on papers they call forged. SRA officials have said they have received the complaint and will investigate accordingly.