Shiv Sena-BJP bickering puts policies on backburner

Mumbai: Fed up with the lack of open spaces in the city, haphazard parking on roadsides, frequent traffic snarls, hawker menace and non-renewal of hundreds of city properties across the city? Blame it on the internal bickering between the Shiv Sena and BJP. Several important policies like the Development Plan 2034, open space, pay-and-park, lease renewal, hawkers, rooftop restaurants, night life have all been kept pending as the Sena and BJP are busy trying to claim credit and show each other down.

The DP is the land use map of the city pertaining to the city’s infrastructure, which includes roads, gardens, schools, hospitals etc. Due to large-scale errors, the civic body had scrapped the earlier draft in 2015 and initiated the process to make a revised draft. The BMC’s planning committee comprising state government and BMC representatives will study the 12,000 suggestions and objections received on the revised draft. While the state has already announced its members for the committee, differences between the Sena and BJP have delayed the appointment of BMC members, thus delaying the DP process further.

However, Prakash Gangadhare, chairman of BMC improvements committee, denied that policies have been kept pending due to differences between Sena and BJP. “The policies will be cleared only after due deliberations. We will work together towards the development of the city.”

In its new recreational ground/playground (RGPG) policy to maintain open spaces in the city, the BMC had scrapped the caretaker policy, which was caught in the eye of the storm due to misuse of open spaces. The BMC decided to allot plots only on adoption basis, not allowing any construction. However, following the public uproar, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis asked the BMC to review it and also asked the civic body to take over 216 open plots that were leased to various organisations. The plots have not been taken back till date.

To curb the growing number of vehicles, the BMC had prepared new parking policy, which allowed residents to park their vehicles in the night outside their buildings and charge for it. However, it was met with stiff resistance from the residents. Taking note of this, the BJP approached the CM, who put a stay on the policy. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray had supported the concept of rooftop restaurants in the city. However, the policy was not cleared in the civic improvements committee as the BJP opposed the proposal saying it is against Indian culture.

Stumbling blocks
Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray had supported the concept of rooftop restaurants in the city. However, the BJP had opposed the proposal saying it is against Indian culture. On the other hand, BJP MLA and corporator Ameet Satam had demanded that there should be night markets in the city. However, the proposal has hit a roadblock with the Sena opposing it.