BMC nod to expansion on plot tied in litigation

The BMC, in its Budget, has proposed expansion of Veermata Jijabai Udyan and zoo, also popularly known as the Byculla zoo, on a seven acre plot received as an amenity from the Mafatlal Mill Compound. However, the said plot is still embroiled in litigation in the Bombay High Court and the verdict is awaited.

Without crossing the legal hump, the civic corporation has confidently proposed expansion of the zoo and even submitted a master plan to the central zoo authority. A senior civic official of Byculla zoo explained that they are confident the court verdict will be in their favour; so, they have jumped the gun and proposed the expansion in anticipation of a favourable ruling.

A legal dispute has been raging between the BMC and the Mafatlal Mill regarding the ownership of the plot in question for the last few years. According to the BMC, the land belongs to the collector, so it should be handed over to the corporation without any cost.

The corporation officials reason that Mafatlal Industries is only the lessee and the land belongs to the state. Also since land has been reserved for a public purpose, there is no reason for BMC to pay Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to a private company, which is not even owner of the land. So, BMC’s plea to the state government is that they be granted peaceful possession of land without any costs. But the mill owner feels they are entitled to receive the non-cash component in the form of TDRs since they had agreed to transfer the rights of lands on those terms.