The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to let go of 33,500 square metres of encumbered land in Andheri (East).

The land had been reserved to set up public amenities under the Development Plan (DP), but is encroached upon by slums. As acquiring the land and rehabilitating slum dwellers will cost ₹98 crore, the BMC has decided to wait for a slum rehabilitation scheme to develop the area and then use the leftover land.

Contentious issue

The BMC was rocked by controversy after the Shiv Sena decided to let go of seven reserved plots that were encumbered. This led to an uproar as most reserved plots are encroached upon and encroachment has never come in the way of land acquisition. Shiv Sena corporator Anant Nar, who had moved a proposal not to acquire land, wrote to the BMC last year requesting it to acquire the 50 plots in Majas, which have been reserved for a playground, a park and a public welfare centre.

The DP department checked the feasibility of land acquisition and gave a negative response, which was tabled before the Improvement Committee. Of the total 51 plots, 50 are encroached upon and measure 33,500 square metres. The BMC is in the process of acquiring the lone 5,000-square metre plot that is not encroached upon. The chief engineer of the DP has ruled that it is not feasible to take control of the 50 plots owing to the high cost of acquisition. If a slum rehabilitation scheme is developed, as per rules, the BMC will get 33% land for building amenities.

‘Why settle for less?’

Mr. Nar said, “This is illogical. As part of the SRA scheme, BMC will get only 33% land. Why should we settle for 1/3rd when we can get the entire land parcel? The administration has no policy when it comes to encroachment. What if no SRA scheme comes there? We have allowed the plots to slip from our hands.”

Leader of the Opposition Ravi Raja criticised the administration and said the Sena had allowed encroached plots to be de-reserved. Mr. Nar said his party was never against acquisition and only wanted a policy in place. The proposal was tabled before the Improvement Committee on Thursday, but the meeting was adjourned.