Senior corporators say the BMC’s general body is likely to reject a proposal, which seeks to reconsider plans to redevelop Crawford Market, a Grade 1 heritage structure.
Contrary to popular belief, a proposal seeking a rethink of the Crawford Market redevelopment proposal might not be entertained at the BMC’s general body
meeting on February 14. Politicians are expected to toe their respective party’s line and reject any call for a review of the projectSenior corporators say the BMC’s general body is likely to reject a proposal, which seeks to reconsider plans to redevelop Crawford Market, a Grade 1 heritage structure.
The redevelopment, slated to be undertaken by East and West Developers, has been criticised widely.
The proposal allows the developer to raze 11 existing structures at the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Municipal Market, as the market is now officially known, and construct two high-rises alongside the heritage precinct.
The plan was approved by the BMC on September 11, 2007, following which citizens’ groups took to the streets, protesting against what they called a sell-out.
Activists say the project will not only burden the infrastructure but also compromise the market’s heritage value. They claim that while the developer would make more than Rs1,000 crore, the BMC would get only about Rs50 crore.
Following street plays and public meetings against the deal, the Samajwadi Party, which did not resist the proposal when it was passed, did a volte-face and offered to reopen the proposal. Corporator Say-yed Barjina Ahmed will read out the request to reopen the proposal on Thursday.
But, in all probability, Ahmed’s request will be turned down in a trice. Requesting anonymity, a leader of a major political party said that except for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), all parties supported the private redevelopment proposal when it was approved. “It will be embarrassing if we roll it back now,” the leader said.
While the ruling Sena-BJP alliance in the BMC is supporting the deal, the Gurudas Kamat camp in the Congress, which usually has the final say on party matters related to the city, is also not against it. But corporators loyal to South Mumbai MP Milind Deora have protested against the proposal. Deora has, in fact, asked all corporators from South Mumbai to attend the February 14 meeting to oppose the deal.
But it may be more than embarrassment that is compelling corporators to disrespect public opinion. Leaders from two political parties conceded that all major parties had accepted crores of rupees to approve the proposal. The money has already been deposited in the respective party funds. “For us, the chapter is over,” one said. None, however, was ready to come on record.
a_sandeep@dnaindia.net 
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