Civic body, university in sub-centre land row

In a bizarre goof-up, the state allotted a public land in Kalyan, which was reserved for a garden, to the Mumbai university for setting up a sub-centre. The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), however, has denied permission for any construction on the site. The varsity had held a foundation-laying ceremony for the sub-centre on the plot in 2010.

The university had got about 26,000 sqm plot in Gandhare area. About two months ago, it submitted the building plan to KDMC to obtain the final nod for construction. But the KDMC objected on the ground that the plot is reserved for a garden.

KDMC assistant director, town planning department, Rajendrasingh Chouhan said, “If the government changes the reservation, only then we can allow the varsity to go ahead.”

University vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar said, “We submitted our plan to the KDMC but we have not received any reply. We’ll wait till we get final permission from it.”

The varsity is yet to start work on the Thane and Vasai sub-centres. If it gets permission for these, it will benefit students living in Thane and Raigad districts who are forced to travel to the Kalina campus for any kind of paperwork.