Indian Express 11.10.2009
This mayor-turned-MLA wants to reserve industrial plots for IT firms
During his stint as Mayor of Thane, Rajan Vichare had staunchly opposed conversion of industrial plots to residential ones. And now in his maiden stint as a MLA (Thane Assembly constituency) Vichare aims to push for state policy that would regulate plot conversions with emphasis on compensation to the original landowners, and reservation of certain portions of plot for business process outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology.
“During my stint as the Mayor there was not a single plot that was converted from industrial to residential,” said Vichare. “With the real estate prices soaring high, the industrialists thought it was wise to sell the land that was purchased at throw away prices, and set-up base in other states such as Gujarat that offer tax waiver,” said Vichare. “Had these plots been retained by their owners they would have served as invaluable assets now. I will also try to reserve 30 per cent of the industrial plots that go for conversion to residential category for setting up BPOs and IT firms for ensuring employment.”
Besides the conversion of industrial plots, traffic is an issue which Vichare says he would focus on. “In a congested city where the population is growing by the day, multi-tier flyovers are the only solution. The second phase of SATIS (station area traffic improvement scheme), the extension from Jamli Naka to Meenatai Thackeray Chowk, will be a priority for me,” said Vichare.
He sarcastically adds that the proposed flyover Kapur Bawdi, to be built by the state, has witnessed three bhumi pujans by various ministers and yet there is no sign of work. “Currently there is a project under Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) wherein 200 slum dwellers have been provided proper houses in apartment buildings at a nominal cost. There has to be more of such projects with an aim to make the city slum free,” said Vichare. Garbage dumping ground, handing over plots reserved for schools to educational trusts and restoration of lakes are also on the to-do-list of Vichare. For this veteran Sainik, perform or perish is the motto with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena eating into its vote bank and Nationalist Congress Party making inroads into the city which was once considered to be Sena’s fortress
