TOI : State considers extra FSI for schools in SRA schemes : Oct 19,2007

RELIEF FOR SLUM CHILDREN
State considers extra FSI for schools in SRA schemes
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: In a move aimed at improving school facilities for the urban poor, the state is considering increasing the FSI for schools affected in the slum redevelopment schemes. Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Thursday said the classrooms in these schools in the slum settlements should be of at least 450 sq ft. However, constraints of space and legal provisions under the SRA rules permit only 225 sq ft tenements. This adversely affected the schools, the CM said at a meeting held in Mantralaya.

    Explaining the issue later, secretary housing, Swadhin Kshatriya, said,”The schools are developed by the civic authorities. Often, there is a lack of coordination between the civic officials and the developer resulting in delay in the construction of the school.’’

    “To avoid such a scenario, the CM has proposed that the schools under the SRA schemes may be considered for enhanced FSI. He said the developer should be made responsible for the construction of schools and all other basic amenities. In return for constructing spacious schools the developer is granted a Transfer of Development Right (TDR) certificate,’’ said Kshatriya.

    MLC Kapil Patil, who represents the teachers constituency in the state legislative council, had brought the issue of hardships encountered by the slum children before the CM at the meeting.

    Patil said the governments decision to grant additional FSI will help 200 schools in SRA schemes in the city and a few lakh children will benefit.”The extra FSI will help the schools some of which are in a state of neglect and even help in the setting up of new institutions,’’ said Patil.

    Patil said that while the SRA schemes enabled families to move from their slums to a 225 sq ft flat, it did not cater to the education infrastructure in these areas. The extra FSI will enable more education institutions to be established.

    The meeting also decided that the MMRDA would allot more space in its resettlement colonies for schools, which were affected by the road-widening projects.

    The meeting was attended by senior officials including the secretary for Urban Affairs, Ramanand Tiwari, MMRDA commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad, and Kshatriya.

    When contacted, Gaikwad said the MMRDA has already allotted space for schools in its resettlement colonies at several areas. “It will increase the space for helping the establishment of schools to cater to more children,’’ he said.


Publication:Times Of India Mumbai; Date:Oct 19, 2007; Section:Times City; Page Number:6

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