What is the Shiv Sena’s stand on open spaces in Mumbai? On one hand, it retracted its proposal to delete an open space reservation after uproar in the BMC last month while on the other, it has done the same thing again. It has rejected proposals to acquire six plots for various amenities worth around ₹200 crore in Monday’s BMC Improvement Committee meeting as they are encumbered. Opposition parties have written to the Municipal Commissioner once again to reverse the decision.
Shiv Sena in BMC last month called for deletion of the reservation of a 2,000 sq. metre plot in Kurla west in the Development Plan for a playground or recreational ground. Sena corporator Anant Nar moved a proposal in a general assembly meeting that the reservation not be pursued as the land was completely encroached upon.
The Opposition created an uproar and in the next few days the Sena reversed the decision.
The Improvement Committee rejected six proposals on the acquisition of plots in Kandivali and Goregaon ranging between 2,000 and 11,000 sq. metre. Reserved for schools, playgrounds and DP roads, five are owned by M/s Bombay Real Estate Development Company Pvt. Ltd. Together, they cost around ₹200 crore.
Leader of Opposition in BMC Ravi Raja said, “The Shiv Sena is selling off Mumbai one by one. Why was the meeting kept on December 31 and proposal circulated in the last minute? This means they had carefully planned this. Together, the market value of these plots is in thousands of crores. The Sena wants to deprive Mumbaikars of these amenities. If the plots are encumbered, the administration will look at ways of developing them. This is an exact repeat of the Kurla plot.”
Reservation retained
BJP corporator Prakash Gangadhare also opposed the move on the floor of the committee. “These reservations have been retained in the new DP as well. That means the administration knows about the encroachments and still wants to pursue acquisition. Then why is the Shiv Sena opposing development?” he asked.
The proposals were rejected by the majority as Mr. Gangadhare alleged that there was no voting. Sena corporator Shraddha Jadhav, who had moved for rejection, said, “In past years, of all the plots acquired by BMC, has a single one been developed? These plots are completely encroached upon. Why should we waste public money over them? We will spend, provided they are developed.”
Ms. Jadhav said in case of encumbered plots, owners should rehabilitate encroachers or the administration should come out with a policy for such plots. However, proposals for plots that are not encroached upon have been passed in the meeting.
216 acquired plots
Defending the move, Improvement Committee chairman Dilip Lande said, “The matter was discussed for at least half-an-hour. About 216 such plots have been acquired so far but none developed. We are not opposed to acquisition, this is for the people after all. But the BMC should force the developer to rehabilitate slum dwellers and give the rest of the plot to us, as per law. Administration should present a revised proposal before the committee.”
When asked why the Sena is changing its stance repeatedly, Mr. Lande said that the party wants all Mumbaikars get every amenity and that this is merely a move to bring a revised proposal back.
