BMC to file sanitation workers’ housing plan by Sept 9: Bombay HC

The BMC must file a fresh affidavit by September 9 identifying municipal land that could be used for ownership housing for sanitation workers, the Bombay High Court has said.

A division bench of Justices G. S. Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale said the civic body’s affidavit did not meet its earlier direction to identify its available land stock for the scheme. The court described the submission as vague and said it was not satisfied with it.

Sanitation workers have petitioned for implementation of a 2008 state policy under which they are seeking ownership housing. The court said the policy had not been implemented since 2008 and described sanitation workers as among the most marginalised and vulnerable workforces.

The BMC said it would survey its land, while adding that the state government would need to allot land to the corporation under the policy’s terms. The court asked the civic body to first specify which municipal land could be used, so it could determine whether an approach to the state government was necessary.

The BMC is to submit the fresh affidavit by September 9.