Hindustan Times  29.10.2010

For the members of the New Link Residents Forum, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) brought a surprise on Thursday. It was a pleasant one because they did not think that the civic body would act so quickly on their complaint against an illegal structure in their area. Following a report in Hindustan Times on October 28, the BMC demolished the temporary shed and a concrete patch built on the agricultural land near IC Colony in Borivli.

Residents had alleged that the land, which falls in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), was being used to construct a car showroom.

“The shed was illegal because there was no official permission to construct it. It was in a no-development zone,” said Parag Masurkar, assistant municipal commissioner, R-North ward.

HT had reported that members of the residents’ forum had seen fresh debris being dumped on the plot on Wednesday. They alleged that a dealer of an automobile company was using the plot to build a showroom.

They wrote to state environment secretary Valsa Nair Singh, collector Nirmal Deshmukh and deputy commissioner of police (Zone XI) Sharda Raut.

“The civic body acted very quickly and demolished the structures in the afternoon. But we will have to continue to be vigilant,” said Harish Pandey, a member of the forum.

Pandey said the land sharks had intended to convert the agricultural land into non-agricultural and build structures on it.

“If all citizens are vigilant and there is good coordination with the authorities, the city is bound to change,” added Pandey.

Hindustan Times  29.10.2010

The civic improvements committee postponed the decision on purchasing the Vile Parle plot, which is reserved as a recreation ground, for at least two weeks. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tabled the proposal before the committee on Thursday.  On June 21, advocate AH Chheda, on behalf of Pareen Corporation, had issued a purchase notice of Rs 3.34 crore for the 1,054 sq m plot to the BMC.      

The plot is reserved as a recreational ground and partly for public housing in the city’s development plan.

However, 19 residential structures have encroached upon the area. These structures will have to be razed if they are illegal or if legal, and the residents will have to be rehabilitated at a cost of Rs 41.88 lakh. This cost will be deducted from the total cost of the plot.

As the purchase notice deadline lapses on June 20, 2011, to retain the reservation the municipal corporation has to begin the acquisition process.

While the Congress was keen to clear the proposal, the ruling party [Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance] postponed it till the next meeting, which will be held after Diwali.

“Don’t postpone it… the proposal also has to be cleared in the general body meeting. It should not be held till the last date like a few earlier proposals,” said committee member from Congress, Upendra Doshi. 

Manoj Kotak, chairman of the improvements committee, replied: “We have enough time to discuss the proposal.”