State, MMRDA fight over Powai open spaces

Modify an open space quoting public interest and then parcel it out to a private developer. This seems to be the new mantra advocated by the state to exploit the last few open spaces in the city.

The state government, Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) and the BMC are locked in a dispute over dereservation of three green patches in Powai.

The state urban development department had sent a proposal to BMC asking to dereserve the plots. The proposal said that dereservation was necessary since MMRDA wanted the land to rehabilitate project affected people of the Mithi river development project. However, MMRDA has not made any such demand.

The state’s proposal to dereserve the plots (CTS No. 23-partly, 26A and 27) was kept before the civic improvements committee last week. But in a letter written to the urban development department by Anil Wankhede, assistant metropolitan commissioner, it has been mentioned that no dereservation has been asked by MMRDA.

“MMRDA has a plan to develop Powai under the Powai Area Development Plan. But the plots mentioned by the urban development department are not a part of this plan. We have sent a proposal to the state government for dereservation of some other plots. However, no decision has been taken,” states the letter.

“If we want to utilise any piece of land for rehabilitation, we will have the record of it. The plots mentioned in the proposal are not included in our plan. Now, if the urban development department is already in a process to dereserve, we might as well utilise the land,” said an official.