The Hindu Business Line : Action group files writ against mill land development in Mumbai

THE outcome of a public interest writ petition filed in the Bombay High Court may decide whether 601 acres of perhaps the country's most expensive real estate may go towards developing public amenities and low cost housing for lakhs of Mumbaites or for extremely lucrative commercial and residential projects for a few mill owners and builders.

A large proportion of this housing is also meant for textile workers affected by the downturn in the textile industry.

The PIL has been filed by the Bombay Environmental Action Group and its honorary secretary, Mr Shyam H.K. Chainani, against the Maharashtra Government, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the National Textile Corporation (Maharashtra North), NTC (South Maharashtra) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority over the development of a huge tract of land in prime central Mumbai area called `Girangaon.'

Originally, the area, mostly of sick textile mills, was to be divided almost equally between mill owners, civic authorities and the State housing authority.

In 2001, the Development Control Regulations of 1991 were amended — mainly the Development Control Regulation 58. Before the amendment, 200 acres were available for open space and 162-222 acres for public housing. Post-amendment, and a substantial modification in the meaning of Section 22A of the MRTP Act, the total area for open spaces and public housing was reduced by more than 50 per cent.

According to the petition, the amended DCR 58 resulted in a reduction in open space to 32 acres from 165 acres and land available for affordable housing fell to 25 acres from 160 acres earlier. Before the amendment 28,422 families would have been housed, but now only a mere 4,433 families would get accommodation, the petition said.

The petition has requested the court to `strike down' the new order and to stay with recommendations made by the Charles Correa Expert Committee Report submitted in August 1996, which said that the lands should be divided roughly a third each to the mill owners, civic authorities and the State housing authority.

It has also asked that pending the case's disposal, a Special Planning Authority should be appointed to supervise the comprehensive development of the mill lands.

The outcome will be keenly awaited by textile mill workers — the key stakeholders in the mill land issue.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page