As per its earlier declaration, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will continue to use saltpan lands, TDA and NDZ areas to fulfil its promise of creating a million affordable homes in Mumba
As per its earlier declaration, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will continue to use saltpan lands, TDA and NDZ areas to fulfil its promise of creating a million affordable homes in Mumbai. However, this decision has not gone down well with the several non-governmental organisations who have been working with the BMC closely to help it come out with the final version of the revised draft development plan 2034 (RDDP).
D. Stalin of NGO Vanashakti said, “We have proposed repeatedly that in-situ development of slums should take place, where horizontal slums are replaced by vertical slums. The remaining area can be used for creating affordable homes. There is no need to encroach on open spaces of the city for this.” Mr Stalin said that it is a disappointment that the BMC has given citizens only 60 days to file suggestions and objections to such provisions. He said, “The Apna Mumbai Abhiyan will now grow stronger and we will fight back such provisions. The city cannot lose its open spaces.”
Meanwhile, defending the civic body’s stance, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said, “There is a factual error in this claim. We are not touching open spaces at all, for affordable homes. Saltpan lands are not open spaces, neither are the NDZs.” To counter factual errors arising from misinterpretations of the DP, Mr Mehta said the BMC would start a dedicated cell that will explain misunderstood matter to the public. “We are in fact opening up 120 hectares of green space from reclamation alone, which will be open to public,” said Mr Mehta.
On the other hand, the DP provides for opening up about 25 per cent of open spaces from NDZ, TDZ, and saltpan lands in the city.
