Reigniting the debate over rampant irregularities in slum redevelopment, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the state legislature has questioned the decision of Chief Executive Officer of SRA of not deducting the mandatory 15 per cent recreational and amenity open plot area from the buildable area (floor space index) calculations in both the cases.

While Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had previously raised audit objections in this regard, the SRA had contested these. After hearing both sides, the PAC has sided with the former, rapping the SRA for passing on undue favours to developers at the cost of larger public interest.

The CAG, in a report submitted to the state legislature in March, 2018, had claimed that “the decision of the CEO, SRA of not deducting mandatory 15 per cent recreational/amenity open plot from the total FSI calculations (in the two cases) had resulted in an undue gain of Rs 37.93 crore to the developers.” Accepting the finding, the PAC has now recommended “immediate action” against all those responsible for the “irregularity.”

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