Cluster devpt phase 3: TMC tables proposal

3rd phase includes 9 urban renewal plans covering areas like Manpada; experts feel civic body in a hurry

THANE: : A month after seeking approval for the second phase of cluster development scheme, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has tabled a proposal for the third phase of the project in the general body meeting slated for December 18.

The third phase includes nine Urban Renewal Plans (URPs) for areas like Upavan, Koknipada, Manpada, Bhimnagar, Mumbra, Kausa and Shil. The urban policy makers and activists in the city have claimed that the corporation is rushing into the entire scheme.

The cluster development scheme for Thane city was approved by the state in 2017, following which the corporation prepared 44 URPs, out of which work on the first six URPs began last year, while the six more URPs were approved in November. The work of survey in all these 12 clusters is now under way. The scheme had suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic, thus the corporation is aiming to fast track it.

Activists and urban planners, however, claimed that there was no need to fast track the project, instead proper hearing should be given to the people.

Mayuresh Bhadsavle, urban policy maker, said, “The corporation had earlier claimed that it would first develop the first phase as a pilot project and after the success of the model, it will be replicated elsewhere.

“However now they have started implementing the project all over the city. The residents are not given a proper hearing. The corporation is merely taking advantage of the pandemic as most people cannot come for the hearing. People also cannot come together to discuss or protest.”

He claimed that all the experts, policy makers and planners should be consulted to understand the problems in the scheme before implementation of the scheme.

Unmesh Bagwe, city-based activist, claimed, “The real estate sector has suffered a major setback in the pandemic. The corporation will displace the residents from their homes. However, no developer will come forward to reconstruct the buildings in the scheme. The scheme is violating all the norms and the government is merely speeding it up without realising the impact. The TMC will merely waste tax-payers’ money like most other halfdone projects.”

An officer from the town planning department said, “We have given a hearing to all the suggestions and objections in these clusters. We have not received a single suggestion/ objection for URPs of Upavan, Manpada and Koknipada, so there was no need for a hearing. There were 765 objections in Bhimnagar and 66 in Kausa which we have heard.”

He said that there were no major objections to any of the nine clusters.