The plots are given on an adoption-and-caretaker basis, but the conditions mentioned in the policy will only help the caretakers grab the city’s open spaces.
The ambiguity and myriad flaws in the new open space guidelines prepared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have been pointed out by members of the improvement committee, who stated that these loopholes would only help private players eyeing open plots to exploit them commercially.
The plots are given on an adoption-and-caretaker basis, but the conditions mentioned in the policy will only help the caretakers grab the city’s open spaces. The Advanced Locality Management (ALM) and resident groups’ roles have been mentioned in the policy, but minimally.
The policy is applicable to all private plots, leased or municipal, all the grounds, gymkhanas, gymnasiums, swimming pools, sports clubs and gardens.
According to the amended policy, which was tabled in the improvement committee last week, the BMC has claimed that says it will try to reduce political interference and also increase its role in decision making.
BJP corporator advocate Gyanmurti Sharma, who was also law committee chairman in his last term, raised several points which pointed out flaws in the policy. He said that if the administration wanted to come clean, it had to return to the committee after reworking the policy.
“We don’t understand the ambiguous nature of the policy. We objected to the policy unanimously,” said Sharma.
“If a private party develops a plot and hands it over to the BMC, he will be given the benefit of transfer of development rights (TDR), and the same person will be able to adopt the plot on a caretaker basis. How can this be allowed?” he queried.
Sharma said that according to the policy, the BMC would give first preference to the lessee of those plots whose lease period was over.
“When the lessee has not developed the plot for 50 years, how could he be entitled for development? In such cases, no tenders will be invited. I smell a rat in the intention of the civic body,” he added.
The policy seems to favour those who are financially strong. In each stipulation, the financial position of the applicant will be kept in mind while allotting the plot. This will favour posh residential complexes and big developers with funds in hand.
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