Save plots in city’s interest: Congress

Mumbai: The Congress has appealed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in the acquisition of six plots by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), saying that he must save these plots in the interest of the city.

The civic administration had presented proposals before the Sena-led civic improvements committee to acquire six plots (one in Goregaon and five in Poisar) worth Rs 1,000 crore. However, the committee rejected the proposals to acquire these plots, claiming that they had been encroached upon, thus making it difficult to acquire them.

Calling it “Yet another scam by the Sena”, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam said, “The BMC would have to pay Rs 260 crore to the owner of the plots which are worth more than Rs 1,000 crore. Why is the civic body, with an annual budget of Rs 40,000 crore, refraining from spending the money? If the chief minister is not a part of this conspiracy, he must intervene and save these plots that are reserved for civic amenities like gardens, schools and roads. Instead of saving the Sena-BJP alliance, he must save the reserved plots in Mumbai,” he said.

“We do not have playgrounds in Mumbai. If these plots reserved for playgrounds are sold to private builders, where will the children play? Does the Sena-BJP govt want skyscrapers in Mumbai instead of playgrounds and schools for children?” he asked.

The Opposition parties in the BMC also alleged that the Sena had planned to allot these reserved plots to developers. “The Sena is not serious about saving these plots. Their only aim is to favour the developers in this matter,” said Ravi Raja of the Congress.

However, the Sena’s Yashwant Jadhav, who is also the standing committee chairman, said that not a single land procurement proposal would be cleared unless the civic administration assured the redevelopment and rehabilitation of the people there.