The construction on salt pan land is not permitted as per coastal regulation zone regulations. And the salt pan land is below the high tide level and development on salt pans is just an invitation to flooding in Mumbai, says Chandrashekhar Prabhu
Mumbai's development plan (DP) till 2034 was sanctioned by the state government on Wednesday and it was announced that one million affordable houses would be built, for which 330 hectares of salt pan lands in Mumbai have been opened up where construction has been allowed. However, housing experts assert that the decision are purely an electoral gimmick and that the government has no intention of providing affordable housing. Looking at previous experiences in the name of affordable housing, the government only sides with builders and land owners, said Advocate Vinod Sampat, an housing activist.
"The construction on salt pan land is not permitted as per coastal regulation zone regulations. And the salt pan land is below the high tide level and development on salt pans is just an invitation to flooding in Mumbai. The civic body is miserably failing to control flooding and this will add on to problems. Plus, development on no-development zone is allowed. In the name of affordable housing, builders will benefit now, who had bought those lands cheap. I do not see the development here benefiting the poor," explained town planner and housing activist Chandrashekhar Prabhu.
In the new development plan, the urban development department has declared that the no-development zone is now converted into special development zone where construction will be allowed, which will open up additional space for development.
However, Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has confirmed that the state government is preparing the new coastal zone management plan. The plan will have new regulations for construction on coastal zones.
"The new regulations for coastal development are to be sanctioned by the central government, which will take at least two years. Plus, the decision on development of salt pans will be challenged by environmentalists in court. Thus, the government will reason that housing could not be constructed due to a stay by the courts. It is just a publicity stunt and a step to gather votes of unaware citizens", Sampat added.
Quote:
"Mumbai has 2,177 hectors of salt pan land of which, according to the new DP, 330 hectares is allowed for development. But, we are yet to receive the notification. Meanwhile, we will also submit a status report to the state government on salt pan land in Mumbai, after which the divisions for development zone, no-development zone, allotment for slum rehabilitation, development as commercial, residential, area affected by wet lands, etc, will happen. After that the new coastal zone management plan will be sanctioned by the environment ministry of the central government," said a senior MMRDA officer.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Affordable Homes")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}