Mumbai: Ravindra Waikar, Member of Parliament from the Mumbai North West constituency, has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, urging a policy revision to enable redevelopment of protected slums under CRZ-2 (Coastal Regulation Zone-2) through government initiatives.
While the state government has been actively involved in the redevelopment of slums on government, private, and reserved lands, residents living for decades in areas like RG (Reservation Grounds), PG (Public Grounds), and NDZ (No Development Zones) — especially those falling under CRZ regulations — have been left out under the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034. These regulations currently protect their existing homes but do not facilitate redevelopment.
Waikar emphasized that buildings located near the coastline, which are considered old and dilapidated, have been declared "protected structures" by the central government under the 2019 CRZ-2 notification, thus allowing for their redevelopment. However, similar treatment has not been extended to slums in the same zones, even though many residents have lived there for 50 to 60 years. This disparity has led to growing dissatisfaction among slum dwellers.
In his letter, Waikar has demanded that slums under CRZ-2 be recognized as "protected slums" under the same 2019 CRZ-2 policy, thereby opening the path for their redevelopment. He argued that changes to the policy would ensure that long-term residents receive rightful, redeveloped housing through state-backed initiatives.
The MP pointed out that the government has previously made policy adjustments to facilitate redevelopment under the 65:35 reservation model, which has benefited slums on RG/PG and open lands. He now calls for a similar policy amendment for CRZ-2 areas, which would align with public interest and secure the housing rights of thousands of slum dwellers.
Waikar concluded his appeal by urging the state to pursue the matter with the central government’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to initiate a strategic policy change in the 2019 CRZ-2 guidelines for the betterment of millions living in these zones.
