The state government will be rehabilitating 1,795 tribal families from Sanjay Gandhi National Park to Marol-Maroshi. Apart from this, the rehabilitation process will also include 13,486 slum hutments from SGNP. All of this will be carried out on a 90-acre land parcel. The tribal families are expected to receive row houses, as per their lifestyle which will be ground plus one storey structures. Slum dwellers will get homes under the existing regulations in the state. Leaders of tribals say that they do not have any problem if the homes are as per tribal lifestyle, and if they are also made part of the whole consultation process.
On Thursday, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority came out with a bid notice, requesting proposal for selection of a consultant for conceptualisation, preparation of tender documents, finalisation of technical specification and advisory services for development of rehabilitation townships.
A senior MHADA official said, "The homes for tribal families will be built by MHADA, we are yet to get the land and we will be constructing row houses which could be ground plus one storey structures, suiting their lifestyle. Once the land comes in our hands we will float tenders for construction. MHADA has been roped in for the homes belonging to tribal families, as SRA has provisions for the rehabilitation of slum-dwellers." The official said the higher authorities held a meeting for the same where MHADA, and SRA officials were present.
One of the engineers from SRA dealing in the matter said, the bid notice has been floated and the project will be carried out under clause number 3.11 of regulation 33 (10) of prevailing DC regulations of Greater Mumbai, which he said means that anyone carrying out the construction will get Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).
Ashok Khandve, one of the tribal leaders said, "There was a meeting some time ago, where we were informed that for tribal families the row houses will be given to them, which could measure up to 480 square feet." However, MHADA officials claimed that it is too early to decide on the area.
Vivek Pandit, of Shramajeevi Sanghatana, an NGO working for tribals, said, "If the government is constructing homes for the tribals as per their lifestyle then we do not have any problem. However, we will request the government to make us a part of the consultation process, because we have worked with them and know their needs."
The bid notice published by the SRA read, "Offers are invited from eligible consultants for consultancy work on a lumpsum basis. The bid document can be downloaded from the mahatenders.gov.in website between Septmber 28 to October 29, and the pre-bid meeting is scheduled on October 19. The last date for submission of bid is October 10 by 1 pm."
