Relief for Ulhasnagar slum residents: Maharashtra govt forms review committee to regularise pre-2011 homes

ULHASNAGAR: In a significant relief for thousands of residents living in unauthorised slum homes in Ulhasnagar, the Maharashtra govt has officially constituted a special constituency-level review committee to process the regularisation of residential structures existing before Jan 1, 2011.

The committee was formed through a govt resolution issued under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, following the state govt’s policy decision to regularise residential encroachments on govt land subject to specific terms and conditions.

According to the order, the policy applies to residential encroachments existing till Jan 1, 2011, and aims to provide legal protection to long-standing homes occupied by economically weaker and lower-income families across the state.

For the Ulhasnagar Assembly constituency, MLA Kumar Ailani has been appointed chairman of the “Vidhansabha Kshetrastriya Aadhava Samiti” (Assembly Constituency-Level Review Committee). The committee has been tasked with reviewing and monitoring the implementation of the regularisation policy at the constituency level.

As per the govt resolution, the committee members include the Tahsildar of Ulhasnagar, Town Planning Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, Deputy Engineer of MSEDCL and the Sub-Divisional Officer of Ulhasnagar division, who will serve as the member secretary.

Officials said the committee will periodically review pending cases and oversee the implementation process in accordance with the provisions laid down in the govt resolution. The panel has also been directed to submit progress reports to the district administration and the guardian minister.

The move is expected to bring major relief to residents living in old chawls, slum settlements and other residential structures that have remained unauthorised for decades despite being occupied by families for generations.

Residents and local housing rights groups have welcomed the decision, saying the formation of the committee has raised hopes of finally securing legal recognition for thousands of homes in Ulhasnagar.