BMC tweaks rules for favouring builders

Changing its rules, BMC has forgone parts of land that were meant for public amenities like gardens, recreation grounds, welfare centres and markets, and allowed builders construct concrete giants on the plots. The rule alteration took place in 2003.

Until then, the BMC had the right to claim for green spaces 5 per cent of all industrial land given up for private redevelopment before letting builders finish constructions. Under the original rules, the BMC would grant commencement and occupation certificates for redevelopment only after the space marked for the public amenity had been handed over.

In Mulund alone, the BMC has not claimed 35 public amenity plots that could have brought some verdant respite to residents. In all, the civic body has so far acquired less than 15 per cent of the land reserved for public amenities under the current Development Plan (DP), and it blames the failure on its empty coffers.

It is the duty of the DP department to ensure that the civic body takes over the land. But in as many as seven of the 35 cases, the BMC has issued occupation certificates without bothering to take over the amenity plots.

The BMCs reluctance to take possession of land that rightfully belongs to the city is shocking. The rule was decided upon in 2003 during a meeting of DP officials held in the G-North (Dadar) ward office. There it was decided that the BMC would not insist on taking physical possession of the amenity portion even after a builder finishes constructions on 50 per cent of the industrial-turned commercial /residential land.