Give suggestions, objections to DP; stay on implementation premature: Bombay High Court to citizens

The Bombay high court on Monday disposed of a petition seeking stay on the implementation of the draft development plan, 2034, terming the plea premature.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and AP Bhangale, while refusing to grant any relief to petitioners Vanshakti foundation, said they can approach the authorities with their suggestions and objections. The foundation had challenged the plan on the grounds that there were several irregularities and coastal regulation rules were being ignored.

The bench, however, noted that it was premature and that the government has wide powers to reconsider or reject the plan. Further, the planning committee is yet to give a final nod to the draft plan, it said.

The corporation also informed the court that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had formed a committee under the leadership of chief secretary to review the DP, which the petitioners can approach. Accordingly, the court disposed of the petition.

Several resident groups from across the city, including Bollywood celebrities, have been staging protests against the draft plan, in which many areas and roads are said to have been wrongly shown as commercial or hawking zones.

On Sunday, residents of Dadar Parsi Colony, Dadar Hindu Colony, Matunga and Wadala took out a rally to protest BMC's new hawkers' policy.