CONG, SENA FUME OVER NETA’S JUNKET
The opposition Congress and ruling partner Shiv Sena have slammed Maharashtra’s agriculture and civil supplies ministers for joining a foreign tour while state’s farm sector is in distress.
The draft Development Plan for Mumbai city till 2034 would be further delayed as the Shiv Sena and Congress corporators want another two months’ extension. They have demanded time to study the plan and propose changes.
The civic body has to approve the DP by May 19. Kishori Pedenkar, Corporator of Worli ward number 199, said the development plan has been made to please builders, not the common people.
Pednekar said, “The draft Development Plan has been made by using google map and physically no officer visited the wards and the areas. For example, in my ward the heritage Dhobitalao near Mahalaxmi station is situated on 7,700 sq mt land while the new DP has reserved only 2,200 sq mt land space. This is shocking.”
“Also, the plan has shown mangroves areas has been shown as open spaces,” she said.
The Leader of the Opposition, Ravi Raja, claimed the DP is difficult to understand. It has options of different colours to differentiate one area from another and has plot numbers. But who will understand which road is under which plot number? Also, the Congress party is against the Aarey metro car shed. Therefore, we will demand an extension.”
Manoj Kotak, group leader of BJP, mentioned that their corporators will not seek time for extension. Kotak said, “Why is more time needed? Everybody has been given enough time to study the DP.”
Nicoloas Almeda, activist from Watch Dog Foundation, said, “For every 20 years a DP is been made but this DP has come late and has many flaws. More than 51,000 objections have been raised by citizens. The 1991 DP had plots which were reserved for playground, parks etc but this new DP plan has deleted 25% of those reserved plots which should have been retained. Also, at present there are 189 gaothans and 40 koliwada. But the new DP has earmarked only 52 gaothans and deleted the remaining and they have been termed slums. Therefore, more time should be taken and proposed changes should be made.”