You may get more time to send feedback for remainder of DP
597 objections and suggestions received for excluded part of Developement Plan
MUMBAI :The deadline for filing suggestions and objections for the excluded part (EP) of the Development Plan 2034 (DP) is likely to be extended beyond June 21. The town planning department has so far received 597 suggestions and objections to EP. Of them, 150 are against the Development Control and Promotions Regulation (DCPR).
The reason for the probable deadline extension could be non-publication of maps (DP sheets) of the suburbs and island city, said an official.
The state government had allotted one month for filing suggestions and objections to EP from the time the gazette notification was published on May 22.
A senior official said, “The period of one month is calculated either from the time the DP notification is published or the DP sheets (ward-wise maps according to the DP provisions) are released by the government, whichever is later.” DP sheets for the island city are ready, but the government is still making changes to the sheets for the suburbs. Once they are ready, all DP sheets will be published.
EP contains changes made by the state government in the DP notification. The DP, which is the city’s growth blueprint for 20 years, was divided into two parts — sanctioned and excluded part. The sanctioned part was approved by the state last month.
On objections to EP, an official said, “There are several duplicate suggestions as citizens mark copies to the state government and the civic body. These are then forwarded to us by the concerned authorities. We will segregate the copies and study them after the deadline.”
Once the deadline is over, officials from the town planning department are given a year to study suggestions and submit a report to the state government, which will then take a final call. Since May 28 when the BMC’S DP assistance cell began interaction with citizens to address their concerns about EP, 447 citizens have visited the BMC office for clarifications. Once the maps are published, they will be uploaded online and will also be displayed at the BMC’S headquarters for citizens. MUMBAI:SHIV Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s speech at the rally to mark the 52nd foundation day of the party on Tuesday, a year ahead of the 2019 state and general elections, sounded oft-repeated and clichéd.
While Thackeray mocked his ally, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he did not spell out his decision on the alliance. Aaditya, Thackeray’s son and head of the youth wing of the party, however, spoke of going solo. So instead of clarity over their role or vision for the upcoming elections, the message that the party cadre got was status quo.
The Sena chief said the next chief minister will be from his party, a statement he has been making through the year since January, when he announced the decision to go solo in all upcoming elections.
He also congratulated the BJP for ending its alliance with PDP in Kashmir, although terming it belated.
The cadre realised the Sena will not walk out of power any time soon, but will play the role of opposition as and when need be.
The takeaway from Thackeray’s speech was the party will wait-and-watch before announcing its plan. The message to political rivals and allies was not just the BJP, regional parties and opposition, too, want the Sena to join hands with them.
Political observers said that facing a catch-22, Thackeray was indulging in politics of survival. “The speech indicates the
ON POLITICS
“There are reports that Pawarsaheb asked us to join the united opposition. It shows everyone is realising how strong we have become…people ask us why we're still in power after criticising the government. This is our politics and we will decide what we want to do.”
ON J&K
“It took you 3.5 years and sacrifice of more than 600 soldiers to realise that you should remove your support in Jammu & Kashmir? When you know how that government functions, why did you support them for so long?”
Sena will sit in the government until the elections are announced or a few months before the announcement. They will contest the polls independently as a U-turn may be difficult at this stage. A post-election tie-up with BJP is a distinct possibility. There is a dilemma in the party about the future, which showed in the speech,” said Surendra Jondhale, political analyst.
Sena leaders said given the political scenario in the country, the party’s stance was fluid. “In January, we passed a resolution
that the party would go solo for elections solo. We can also take the resolution back. The question is whether BJP will give us a clear upper hand and the position of a big brother. We don’t think that is possible,” said a senior Sena leader, on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
The overall sentiment is the party should take a call depending on the outcome of the next round of state Assembly elections that will be held by the end of the year.