There may be relief on the cards for societies in the vicinity of defence establishments in Mumbai whose redevelopment has been held up. The state government will issue a fresh government resolution (GR) soon, clearing the decks for the redevelopment of these structures.
BJP MLAs Yogesh Sagar and Atul Bhatkhalkar had moved a calling attention motion in the state legislative assembly on Wednesday pointing to how development in a 500m periphery of defence establishments had been curbed and, in 2010, the state had made it mandatory for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to be obtained from the ministry of defence if the area fell in the periphery of a military establishment.
This had affected the redevelopment of such buildings, including those which were dipalidated, they said.
Speaking in the assembly on Wednesday, Bhatkhalkar pointed out that while such curbs had affected redevelopment in the Malad-Kandivli belt (which abuts a Central Ordinance Depot), two 32-storey towers and a hotel had come up on the periphery of defence land.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said in May 2011 the defence ministry had sent a letter which made it evident that there was no need for an NOC and that the station commander could take necessary action if he thought the construction was detrimental.
"The onus is on the defence (authorities) and not on us," said Fadnavis, adding that the state had not changed the necessary rules accordingly.
He said the state would issue a new GR, which stated the onus was on the defence authorities, but added that the state government too was responsible for protecting defence establishments. Accordingly, if construction permissions have been granted by the municipal corporation, it will put them up on the website and then ask the defence authorities to come forward with objections, if any.
Parag Alavani (BJP-Vile Parle) pointed to how the redevelopment of slums on defence land in Ghatkopar and Santa Cruz was pending. Fadnavis said he had recently discussed the issue with defence minister Manohar Parrikar.
"The land does not benefit the defence (authorities)… (while) the slum is not redeveloped," said Fadnavis, adding that if redevelopment or SRA projects were approved on such lands, they would prepare a densification plan and make available the land left after implementing the rehabilitation scheme to the defence authorities. Alternatively, if there was any government land in the vicinity, it too could be made available.
He added that Parrikar had said if the state sent a proposal in this regard, they would consider it positively on merit.
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}