Sustainable Urban Spaces Among 100 Demands Put Forth By Maharashtra's Civil Society Groups

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for October 21, some civil society groups have put across their demands into a manifesto that seeks to draw the attention of politicians towards 100 different pain-points under 12 categories. The manifesto titled, the Maharashtra Urban Citizen's Manifesto 2019, was prepared by 39 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) as well as other groups such as Pani Haq Samiti, Maharasthra Beghar Abhiyan, Centre For Promoting Democracy and Right to Pee.

Main concerns

Creation of inclusive and sustainable urban spaces, finalisation of the Maharashtra Housing Policy and guaranteed minimum wages not less than Rs 18,000, land and housing, urban governance, transgender community, homeless people, environment and ecology, transport and mobility, among others, were the demands. Rallies were held across Mumbai's western suburbs to sensitise the voters. 

Sitaram Shelar, convener of Pani Haq Samiti, said, " After preparing the manifesto, we met heads of all the parties last week and requested them to incorporate our demands in their poll manifestos. A few parties found our
document worthy and borrowed some of our points. We are now
hitting the streets to sensitise the voters," he said.

Maharashtra To Reduce Development Charges: NAREDCO

While the civil groups have raised their demand, builders are looking forward to better days ahead. In a move that could lower the cost of project construction for builders and property prices for homebuyers, especially in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has decided to reduce the development charges and premium for additional FSI (floor space index). Speaking at a conference organised by the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) recently, Niranjan Hiranandani, co-founder, Hiranandani Group,  and NAREDCO national president, said the higher cost of construction due to multiple taxes discourages developers from taking up affordable projects in the state.

"The developers’ body has suggested that development charges be reduced by at least 66 per cent to make construction of affordable housing projects a viable choice for builders but the government has settled for 33 per cent." 

While welcoming the government's move to reduce the charges, Hiranandani said there was 'scope for more.' According to him, even an affordable home in the remote areas of Maharashtra, costs as much as Rs 10,000 per sq ft, thanks to the cost of development. Land acquisition costs,  Hiranandani said, were also high and needed to be rationalised. 

Developers have maintained that developing affordable housing projects will be a problem, in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi, because it is difficult to fit the definition in terms of size, as well as price, as prescribed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. However, Hiranandani did agree that despite the problem, the sector will see a 32-35 per cent growth, in the next five years. According to the industry body, this growth will happen in the small cities, where the PMAY scheme will thrive, because of land availability at affordable rates.