Ball’s now in CM’s court

The issue of whether or not to entrust the responsibility of formulating Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s (MBMC)- development plan (DP) to an outside agency will now be decided by CM Devendra Fadnavis.

More than a year after its validity came to an end in January 2018, the proposed DP continues to stare at an uncertain future, as the state government recently stripped MBMC’s power by handing over the charge to Thane’s Assistant Director of

Town Planning (ADTP), owing to inordinate delays.

The Free Press Journal had prominently highlighted the issue (Stung by Delays Govt. Strips MBMC of Powers to Formulate DP) in its Jan 31 edition, following which MBMC Mayor Dimple Mehta sought the CM’s intervention into the matter.

“How, can an external agency which is totally unaware of the actual ground realities deal with issues like existing land uses, open space needs and other crucial parameters. Moreover how can we expect justified answers to objections and suggestions,” questioned Mehta. MBMC’s DP came into effect in 1997 and a new 20-year fresh vision document was mandated to be prepared and ratified before 9, January 2018.

However, after the abrupt transfer of the designated town planning officer, the process was mysteriously kept on hold for the past more than a year, as the administration awaited government directions following allegations over parts of the DP going viral on social media even before it could take off from the drawing boards. Blaming the town planning officer for the inordinate delay, the Joint Director of Town Planning (Konkan division) in his order conferred discretionary powers to the Thane ADTP for taking the DP to its logical conclusion. To protect their own selfish business interests, some nervous builders who had staged the mess to ensure the DP hits a dead end, have now changed their goal post to Thane, sources said.