Resolution to change reservation passed amidst strong protests by opposition
Even as the twin-city struggles to cope with the lack of open spaces, the BJP-led Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) took a controversial decision by passing a resolution to change the reservation of a prime plot in Bhayandar – from primary school/playground to market category status.
Despite a strong opposition registered by the Congress members and protests staged by their Shiv Sena counterparts, the BJP on the virtue of the majority, passed the controversial resolution in the general body house on Saturday. The proposal to change reservation is related to a land admeasuring 5,800 sq mt, located in the revenue village of Navghar, bearing survey number 220.
Interestingly, the MBMC has already acquired 5,723 sq mt in lieu of Transfer Development Rights awarded to the private developer. “It is nothing but an evil ploy by the BJP to deprive the local populace of much needed amenities and open space by misusing their authority aimed at pampering the rich. We will never allow this injustice,” said Congress corporator Anil Sawant while mooting a counter resolution.
Defending the move, BJP corporator, Dhruv Kishor Patil said, “Like schools and playgrounds, the region also needs markets for citizens. Our aim is to enhance civic amenities in the region.”
Former mayor and BJP's own corporator Geeta Jain said, “It is strange that in every other meet they come up with a proposal to un-reserve or change existing reservations. It's for the administration to check the status of other reservations, mainly those tagged with market. After all students will need more schools and playgrounds in near future.”
Mooted under Section 37 of the MRTP Act, the resolution will be sent to the state government for further process including notifications, invitation of suggestions and objections to effect the changes. Then, the hearing on suggestions and objections will be held followed by the change in reservation, if approved by the Urban Development Department (UDD). It is suspected that the move was a systematic ploy to use the market reserved land for the construction of a shopping mall.
Approved in May 1997, MBMC's Development Plan (DP) blueprint has a total of 386 plots which are tagged with various reservations for buildable public amenities. However, most are yet to be acquired and developed by the civic administration.
Actual needs will be verified
“Although the resolution has been passed by the ruling governance, the administration will do its duty of cross verifying the actual need of the proposed changes by conducting a field survey of listed amenities. It will be ensured that no anti-citizen step is allowed to be taken. If the need arises the resolution will be sent for scrapping,” assured civic chief Balaji Khatgaonkar.
Interestingly, the existence of the 20 year-old DP has already ended in 2017, paving way for the preparation of a fresh 20-year vision document till 2037 which is said to be in its final stages of publication.