BMC policy twist to regain plots

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to amend its policy to expedite the acquisition procedure of 91 open spaces in the city to convert them into recreational grounds for Mumbaikars.

These plots, which cover a total area of 21 lakh sqm and are worth Rs2,100 crore — have been reserved for recreational grounds, according to the city’s development plan.  It takes the BMC at least 10 years to get back a plot after the owner serves the purchase notice. 

Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner, said the BMC does not have direct control over the plot acquisition procedure because of the involvement of multiple government bodies.

“We have decided to take up the issue with the state revenue department. We want to simplify the procedure so that only two to three years are required to acquire a plot after the purchase notice is served by owner,” he added.

“It is true that the acquisition of plot procedure is lengthy and complicated. We have no option but to go by the rule book. Besides the BMC, we have to consult other government bodies, including the collectorate’s office and tehsildar,” said a senior civic official, requesting anonymity. 

“We also need to verify various documents, which further delays the procedure. Moreover, 80% of these open spaces have been encroached upon. The BMC will need crores of rupees to resettle the squatters and develop the plots,” he added. 

According to the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, a plot reserved for public amenities should be acquired by the local government for development as per the reservation mentioned in the development plan within 10 years of approval of city’s town planning.

The owner can serve a notice to the BMC under section 126 of the Act and ask it to purchase the plot. If the BMC would not purchase the plot, the reservation would lapse, under section 127 of the Act.

Congress corporator from Borivli, Rajendraprasad Chaube, who raised the issue of lengthy plot acquisition procedure several times in the general body meetings, asked, “In my constituency, the BMC had responded to three plots’ purchase notices in 2005, 2006 and 2007. But, till date, not a single plot has been acquired by the BMC. The proposals were stuck at various departments due to various reasons. It gives ample time to plot owners to move court and make various applications to derail the procedure and the public are deprived of recreational grounds and public amenities.”