The Times of India 12.10.2010
Civic body to acquire Mazgaon plot today
MUMBAI: The BMC, which faces the danger of losing an open space in the heart of the city, will finally acquire it on Tuesday. The deadline for the acquisition of the 1,000 sq-m plot of land in Mazgaon, which is currently reserved for a recreation ground (RG), lapses on Thursday. To retain the reservation, the civic body has no choice but to start the acquisition process before Thursday.
A special general body meeting of the civic body has been organized on Tuesday to discuss the proposal for acquiring the land. Once the proposal is passed, the acquisition process will begin.
The plot is owned by the state, but has been leased to the civic body, which has further sub-leased it to developers. On October 14, 2009, a purchase notice of Rs 2.58 crore for the 1,000 sq-m plot in Mazgaon had been issued to the civic body by architect Prakash Ghariya on behalf of SK and SK developers. "We will start the process of acquiring the land as we cannot let reservation on the plot lapse. It is reserved as a recreation ground and we will use it as a RG once it is acquired," said a senior civic official.
If the notice period lapses, the reservation on the plot lapses within 12 months of the date of purchase notice served - the reservation would not be valid and the owner of the plot can use the land, says the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, Section 127.
