Powai Project Affected Persons (PAP) rehabilitation project

Ahuge chunk of land in Powai, labelled as No Development Zone (NDZ), has been opened for construction. It will now be used for construction of approximately 30,000 tenements for Project Affected Persons (PAPs), as part of the rehabilitation project undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
    The 60,000 sq mtr plot (approximately 15 acres), is part of the city survey nos. 23A, 26A and 27, behind Hiranandani Garden near the Powai hills. It is currently owned by a private entity.
    The plot will be developed using provisions of Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) and in lieu of the PAP tenements, the developer/landlord will be able exploit the remaining (read huge) portion commercially, government sources said.
    As per Section 3.11 of the SRA, Commissioner MMRDA is a deemed Chief Officer of the SRA for areas where MMRDA is the planning authority.
    The authority had demanded the land be kept to rehabilitate PAPs, affected by various development works under the Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP) and Mithi River widening project, says a government order, a copy of which is with this newspaper.
    With the government nod, the current reservation status of the plot goes from 'No Development Zone' to 'Residential Zone'.
    Meanwhile, the authority has, in recent years, rehabilitated 2,930 families at Tunga village in Powai and 764 in Mankhurd, affected by the Mithi River works.
    The MUIP has necessitated rehabilitation of over 25,000 PAPs. Most PAPs are asking for rehabilitation close to their current dwellings, which the government has now accepted in most cases.
    Powai, surrounded by Powai lake, Aarey Colony, Filmcity and The Sanjay Gandhi National Park, was once known for its greenery and nature. With the massive development works and opening of the hillside land for rehabilitation of the National Park slum dwellers, its identity is fast changing now.