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Western suburbs top BMC’s list of 'illegal' towers

Thursday, 26 December 2013 08:38 administrator
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The Indian Express              26.12.2013

Western suburbs top BMC’s list of 'illegal' towers

Borivali (West), parts of south Mumbai and Andheri (West) have the largest number of illegal cellphone towers in the city, according to ward-wise data made available by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the first time.

The civic administration had earlier claimed there were 4,806 cellphone towers in the city, of which 3,661 were illegal. The latest data posted on its website estimates these figures at 4,776 and 3,618, respectively.

While the maximum number of illegal towers are in the western suburbs (1,650), the island city has 1,311 illegal cellphone towers and eastern suburbs 657.

Dismissing BMC's claims, the Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) recently claimed that not a single cellphone tower in Mumbai was illegal and that the civic body had been sitting on applications for 4,578 cellphone towers that had already been installed.

While cellphone towers and their perceived health hazard has been discussed for several years in the city, the debate intensified in 2011. The civic body issued three drafts of guidelines in just a year, the final one in September 2013. Besides, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the state's urban development department (UDD) too have drafted separate guidelines.

Currently, there is lack of clarity as to whose guidelines will be finally implemented in the city though some civic officials say they will have to go with the state government's policy.

With the number of illegal towers increasing from about 1,800 in 2011 to almost double at 3,618, civic officials say the rise was due to a lack of policy and numerous residential societies allowing such towers in their premises.

In 2011, mobile operators had moved the High Court court when the BMC launched a drive to demolish several mobile towers in the city and got a stay.

 

Civic chief asks BMC, fire dept to adhere to SC order on open spaces

Thursday, 26 December 2013 07:54 administrator
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The Indian Express              26.12.2013

Civic chief asks BMC, fire dept to adhere to SC order on open spaces

Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte Tuesday instructed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Development Plan and fire departments to ensure strict compliance of the December 17 Supreme Court order that makes it mandatory for buildings to leave recreation space at the ground level and adequate open space for smooth passage of fire engines.

While the BMC has initiated action to implement the order despite its adverse impact on several major real estate projects in the city, the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI), the umbrella organisation of 1,500-plus builders is planning to file a review petition against the order.

"We are planning to file a review petition with the SC in response to the order on various aspects. The major concern is that if implemented, the order will stall more than 60 per cent of the construction projects in the city, especially the redevelopment projects," said Vimal Shah, president, MCHI and managing director, Hubtown (Ackruti City).

The Supreme Court had ruled that developers will have to mandatorily set aside a minimum 15-25 per cent of the plot size at the ground level towards open recreational spaces. Many buildings in the recent past have been creating such recreational spaces at the podium level and adding it to the open space at the ground level to fulfil the minimum 15-25 per cent open space norm.

In addition, the order states that developers have to keep at least six metres of open space on a plot to enable firefighting. Hitherto, schemes of redevelopment of cessed buildings, cluster development and slum rehabilitation were allowed to keep just 1.5 metre of open space on plots less than 600 sq m.

Industry sources said the rule would affect redeveloment of old buildings, especially in Masjid Bunder, Bhendi Bazaar, Sandhurst Road, Dongri, Kalbadevi and Pydhonie, where pre-1960 buildings abound in narrow lanes.

The 3,000-member strong Practising Engineers, Architects & Town Planners Association (PEATA) is also planning to write to Kunte and the Chief Minister to discuss alternative solutions. "The BMC should have approached the builders and architects to present their concerns before issuing a stringent circular. By implementing the rule, the civic body will lose out on huge revenue from floor space index (FSI) premiums," said Ratan Bhalwankar, joint secretary of PEATA.

 

Parking lots planned in parks

Thursday, 26 December 2013 06:47 administrator
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Deccan Herald              26.12.2013

Parking lots planned in parks

The proposal to build parking lots in the City's lung spaces is part of the new parking policy. DH file photo

The City’s parks are under threat again. While a few parks have turned into landfills, those in residential areas are set to become parking lots, if the Palike goes ahead with its plan.

According to sources in Urban Development department, the City faces acute shortage of parking space with the number of vehicles increasing every day. With no other alternative space available, officials have come up with the idea of using parks as parking lots.

The plan has been mooted as part of new parking policy likely to be unveiled soon.


Under this policy, government has divided central business districts and other premium locations into three zones. Parking fee will be collected on hourly basis in each zone. It also suggests multi-level parking facilities in the City, while mandating that building plans should not be approved in case they do not provide for parking space.

 “Bangalore does not have the luxury of providing parking space on roads. The roads in the City are not wide enough. So, alternatives need to be thought of,” an official said.

M N Srihari, advisor to State government on transport and infrastructure, said while constructing multi-level parking spaces on government land is the best solution, parks can be utilised on a temporary basis. 

“Government can also think of constructing underground parking slots below parks. Bangalore has some very nice parks. Underground parking spaces can be constructed below them, metered and managed,” he said.

Environmentalists, however, are against the proposal. They said this will kill a few remaining lung spaces in the City. According to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), there are 1,050 developed parks and around 250 undeveloped parks in the Garden City. Developed parks are those where forceful planting has been done to create a green belt. 

Legal framework

Greens point out that Karnataka Preservation of Parks Act, 1976, prohibits diversion of a part or whole of park for any other use. 

Interestingly, the Act was amended and parking spaces were kept out of its purview when the government threw open some part of Cubbon Park for parking, a decade ago. Environmentalists fear that this could happen again. 

Environmentalist A N Yellappa Reddy said using a portion of parks for waste segregation is acceptable. But utilising even a small part for parking is a crime. 

“Around 70 per cent of City’s green spaces have been lost over the years. Further, normal temperatures have also increased by five to six degree Celsius. If parking is allowed in parks, the ambient air quality will get affected and temperatures will rise further. Instead, all government buildings should be used for parking,” he suggested.
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 December 2013 06:53
 
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