Draft DP sets aside land for Sunni Muslims' cemetery

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday informed the Bombay High court that in the proposed Draft Development Plan (DP) for the city it will have 3,000 sqm of land marked for a Sunni Muslims' cemetery in Bandra.

In an affidavit filed by Ashok Shendge, BMC's Executive Engineer said, "Existing land survey and gap analysis is carried out for existing amenities in H-West ward and surrounding areas. The BMC is preparing the DP, which will be submitted to the state government along with recommendations, decision or modifications if any. The proposed DP is likely to be published within six weeks."

Counsel Anil Sakhare appearing for the corporation said that within six weeks the demarcation will be completed and a detailed reply will be filed in the court after seven weeks.

The direction was given during the hearing of a petition filed by Bandra resident Furqan Qureshi over the failure of authorities to allot a land for the community to bury their dead. Advocate Ashraf Sheikh appearing for the petitioner had pointed out that, development plans in relation to an area in Bandra west which was reserved for the cemetery, is now being allotted to the MMRDA for metro work.

The BMC informed the court that an area of 5,000 sq ft was reserved at SPA block which is now being increased to 20,000 sq ft. However, the court questioned the move on the ground that in Bandra the population of the community was around 1.72 lakh.