Panel suggests measures to improve functioning of DP

Mumbai: To prevent irregularities in matters pertaining to purchase notice, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inquiry committee has recommended a slew of measures to improve the functioning of Development Plan (DP) and law departments. Among them, the creation of high-tech DP reservation management software (DRMS) to supervise the reserved plots and the formation of a committee to decide on filing petitions in cases, which have gone against the civic body, are the major suggestions.

According to the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) act, the plot reserved for public amenities should be acquired by the local government for development as per the reservation mentioned in DP within 10 years of approval of city’s town planning.

The owner can serve a notice to the corporation under section 126 of MRTP and ask the civic body to purchase the plot. If the corporation would not purchase the plot, the reservation would lapse under section 127 of MRTP and the owner can develop the plot as per the reservation of the adjacent plot.

In such cases, the DRMS will allow supervision of plots, which are reserved by respective departmental heads, for further action. The remarks of departmental heads should be taken half-yearly so that the reservation would not lapse, the report said.

In case of negligence in handling of special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court (SC), the report has proposed to form a committee to decide whether to file the petition or not in cases, where the high court has given verdict against the BMC.

The committee will be headed by the department head, law officer, assistant law officer, deputy law officer and it will check whether it is necessary to file SLP against the HC verdict and submit its report within 15 days to the commissioner, said the report.