Citizens, AGNI up in arms against BMC

Mumbai, Jun 6: Citizens have objected to the construction activity at Malad as the area falls under the no-development zone in the development plan of the P-North ward of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, 1966. Non-governmental organization AGNI took up the issue with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC.

"The BMC, who gave a notification in the newspapers in December 2004, thereby informing the public about their proposed modification of the above mentioned land," said AGNI member James John.

After reading about the item in the newspapers, several housing societies, the Mohalla Committee and the advanced locality management of the K-east ward took up the issue.

They submitted a letter to municipal commissioner Johny Joseph and deputy chief minister R. R. Patil citing reasons why there cannot be a housing complex on the said plot.

The letter, available with this newspaper, states that the said land is not accessible from any municipal or public road.

"The present population of the P-north ward is on higher side and there is no scope available for development on the east of the Western Express Highway as most of the area comes under the Aarey Milk Colony and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park," added Mr. John.

Further, Mr. Joseph had already announced that due to water scarcity the new buildings will get connections only for drinking purposes. This vast open no-development zone is useful for natural rainwater harvesting and acts as an aquifer for recharging the groundwater levels so that residents in the nearby vicinity can get fresh water through borewells.

"Thus, if there is an absurd plan to develop this land, the groundwater levels in the vicinity will go down and the existing residents in the vicinity will face severe water shortage," added Mr. John.

However, Mr. Kiran R. Chaudhari, director, engineering services and projects, BMC has sent the objection letter to the director, town planning, Pune. The members of AGNI had met Mr. Chaudhari in January 2004 and are still awaiting his reply.

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