BMC destroying gaothan, say Pali Village locals

Mayor vows to oppose any development that threatens to spoil its look and feel

MUMBAI: Residents of one of the oldest gaothans in the city, the Pali Village, feel that BMC’s wrong policies are destroying the nature of the gaothan.

At a meeting with mayor Shubha Raul , municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak and BMC officials on Tuesday, the residents complained that illegal construction and permissions given randomly by the building proposal department were undermining the area’s heritage. The residents also complained that vertical growth was putting a strain on the inadequate infrastructure in the area. “Tall buildings are coming up on the road line. We are told one thing and something else comes up,” said Neil Pereira, resident of Pali Village said.

The mayor, who until recently demanded an FSI of four for gaothans, supported the residents. “Ninety five per cent of the locals are against it and they feel it will spoil the feel of the area,” said Raul.

“Highrises near bungalows have blocked ventilation. Gaothans are the soul of the city; they need to be preserved,” said Vidya Vaidya, member H / West Ward Citizens Trust. Raul is planning another inspection of the area with the commissioner on March 10. The residents, however, were upset with the commissioner seeking opinion of the local corporator on illegal constructions.

“The mayor and residents said that some buildings were on the road line. We will check those violations. Our engineers feel that all the buildings have come up as per DC Rules that allow TDR in the areas as roads are 20 ft wide. The residents’ demand that no old bungalows be demolished is not possible as we cannot prevent development. I was only checking with the local representative if she received complains of any major violations, which she did not,” Phatak said.

s_ashutosh@dnaindia.net