Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Battle of the Spaces

In Mumbai land is dearer than gold. Actually now a days it is land, stocks and then gold. One city which has to battle its way to accomodate zillions and still manage to find open spaces is facing a serious delima.With the Mumbai municipal corporation's amendment to its policy on development of open spaces kills the last remaining open spaces of land, which could give this city the breathing space it badly needs.
BMC's new policy gives away all open spaces larger than 15,000 square metres for construction of clubs, gymnasiums and other facilities on a quarter of the plot area.
These are facilities, which will be exclusive to members, though the open area will be available to the public.
This puts about 82 plots of land for sale in the city from the 608 open pieces of land.
According to the earlier BMC policy, maidans had to be first offered for adoption so resident associations, NGOs, corporates could take them over for maintenance.
No construction except a gardener's chowkie was to be allowed. If there were no takers, the plot could be given on a 'care taker' basis for construction of clubs on 25 per cent of the land.
But the abolition of this scheme has activists fuming. The BMC administration is, however, defensive saying that adoption is not lucrative and plots get encroached if not developed.
The BMC is failing in its statutory duty as civic body because BMC is actually meant to be the caretaker of the city.
Cross posted here.

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