No extension for Development Plan objections: BMC

CIVIC CHIEF AJOY MEHTA SAID THE BMC ALREADY ADDRESSED THE MAJOR CONCERNS RAISED BY CITIZEN GROUPS

MUMBAI: July 29 will be the final day to submit suggestions and objections to the city’s 20-year vision. Despite citizen groups demanding an extension to submit objections to the Development Plan (DP) 2034, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said an extension will not be provided.

Civic chief Ajoy Mehta said the BMC already addressed the major concerns raised by citizen groups. “The DP has been in the public domain for a year now. People had ample time to respond to the document,” he said.

In a letter to the Bandra West Residents Association (BWRA) — a copy of which HT has — the BMC stated that demands for an extension cannot be considered, citing reasons such as the release of the plan in phases and the setting up of the BMC help-desk.

The DP blueprint was released on May 27, with a 60-day window for citizens to submit their suggestions and objections. The BMC had released chapters of the DP and the Development Control Regulations (DCR) in four phases before releasing the entire plan.

“Many citizen groups demanded an extension. However, the decision rests with the State and not the BMC. The commissioner asked us not to permit an extension,” said Vivek More, deputy chief engineer, DP

When the BMC released the plan in February 2015, it received a lot of flak, forcing chief minis ter Devendra Fadnavis to ask the BMC to revise the draft.

Apart from BWRA, the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), AGNI, Hamara Shehar Vikas Abhiyaan (HSMA) the Watchdog Foundation Oval Cooperage Residents Association and the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) have also demanded an extension.

“The published draft plan seems both incomplete and pro visional and therefore leads to uncertainty in assessing what the planners have in mind,” said Pankaj Joshi, executive director of UDRI, in a letter to the BMC

UDRI said many crucial elements – like gaothans, koli wadas, religious and heritage precincts have not been marked in proposed land maps.