Lax BMC might lose plot

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) laxity continues over acquisition of open space in the city. Left with just a week’s time to procure an open space spread over 7500 sq meter of area at Juhu, the civic body is still puzzled over the ownership of the land. Mired with the confusion over whom does the amenity plot at Juhu Vile Parle Development (JVPD) scheme belongs to, the BMC still hasn’t pulled its act together to acquire it.

Municipal Commissioner, Swadheen Kshatriya, has written a letter to the state Urban Development department inquiring if the plot comes under the ownership of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) or the JVPD housing scheme. The letter also questions if the civic body should develop the space as the amenity plot would be restricted to the cooperative housing society. JVPD scheme is a cluster of 14 cooperative housing societies. The land was allotted to the society on an ownership basis by Mhada in 1960.

Under the city’s development plan, which came into force in 1991, the 7500 sq meter plot is reserved for a recreational ground and road. The BMC will acquire the plot on the state’s ready reckoner rate of 63 crore. Although the civic improvements committee had given its nod to issue the purchasing notice for the land two months ago, the civic administration hasn’t acted on it so far.

The deadline to purchase the plot lapses on December 3. If the BMC fails to meet the deadline, the plot can be commercially used by the owners.

“We ought to protect the green cover in the city. If this lethargic attitude continues the city will steadily lose all its open space,” said Manoj Kotak, chairman improvements committee. “The issue of ownership rights and compensation can be sought at a later stage. All these queries are futile until the civic body acquires the plot.”

Once the improvements committee sanctions the purchase order, the acquisition process will initiate only after the mayor gives a final nod in the general body meeting. However, the municipal councilors claim that the mayor, Shraddha Jadhav, is deliberately delaying it.

“We have approached the mayor to speed fast the acquisition and development of the plot for recreational ground. It’s clear that there are hidden vested interests,” said Rajhans Singh, leader of the opposition. Meanwhile, the mayor did not comment on the allegations.

Besides, the fate of another plot of 2980 sq meter at JVPD hangs in midway. The space is reserved for an international library in Juhu. If the BMC loses these two plots, property worth of market value of over Rs100 crore will fall off from the civic body’s kitty and can be exploited for commercial purpose.

Standing committee chairman, Rahul Shewale, also said that the RG plot and the land reserved for international library should be acquired at the earliest.

Expert view
Public interest should always be government’s top priority
The JVPD plots should never be privately owned. In our country, rules are made keeping in mind the interest of the larger section of society. When a rule is ruining public interest, it’s time to change it to save the rights of public who need roads, recreational ground etc. 

The government should act soon and acquire it before it can be commercially used by the owners. The discussion was not just for a ground or an international library, there was also a proposal to build roads. The space for this was allotted too. We have to plan keeping the public’s need in mind; the authorities’ inaction should not affect the people.
Adolf D’Souza, corporator