Sena turns down BMC proposal to buy ₹80cr plot for civic amenities

LEADERS FROM THE OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE WRITTEN TO CHIEF MINISTER DEVENDRA FADNAVIS TO INTERVENE IN THE MATTER

MUMBAI : The Shiv Sena, the ruling party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), turned down a proposal on Thursday to acquire a prime plot located near Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) valued at around ₹80 crore and reserved for building a civic amenity .

The Sena turned down the proposal stating the plot has several encroachments and should not be acquired.

A 20,000 square feet plot in Kurla (West) was reserved for playground or recreation ground.

The land owner had sent a purchase notice (notifying the civic body to acquire the plot) to the BMC in 2017, who has to acquire it within two years. Ravi Raja, leader of opposition, said, “All procedural approvals needed from the civic committees were in place and a final nod from the general body was needed to proceed with the acquisition. This was a preplanned decision to lapse the reservation on the plot and give back the plot to the builder. The ruling party along with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is favouring the builders at the cost of the city’s open spaces.”

Sena leader Anant Nar said in the general body, “There are encroachments on the plot, which need to be rehabilitated. We do not have enough alternative homes to shift the families over there. This will stall the development of the playground.”

Leaders of opposition parties have written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in the matter.

Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party leader, said, “The Urban Development Department (UDD) can overrule the decision taken by the general body on any proposal. We will not sit quiet until the plot is acquired by the BMC.”