Bhayandar : In a major setback to thousands of families living in old and dilapidated buildings of the twin city, the State government’s urban development department (UDD) has struck down the proposal tabled by the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) mooting changes in the development control (DC) regulations to facilitate redevelopment projects of old structures with existing plus one Floor Space Index (FSI).
Tabled before the UDD in September 2012, the proposal for adopting modifications in existing regulations under the relevant sections of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act was rejected last month, this after biting dust for more than three years.
In its notification dated July 17, 2015, the UDD stated that after consultations with the director of town planning coupled by the exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (2)of Section 37 and of the said Act, the proposal stood rejected. However, most of the old buildings in the twin city have already consumed a FSI of more than 4, and builders are reluctant to undertake redevelopment work. At present, the FSI has been capped at 1.33 for new projects while the slum redevelopment projects are entitled to an FSI of 2.5. Although the cluster scheme recently floated by the government authorities envisaged planned, proper but ‘collective’ redevelopment, it would be a tough challenge for its successful execution owing to scattered presence of old and shaky buildings in a majority of the regions.
Sensing gravity of the situation, Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik moved a call attention motion in the state Assembly.
[alert type=”e.g. warning, danger, success, info” title=””]
Structural audit process under scanner
In the aftermath of the Mumbra building collapse in 2013, the MBMC had mandated residents of as many as 1,267 structures to conduct structural audits and submit stability reports. While 158 out of the 747 buildings were found to be 30 years old, 25 were listed as dangerous. Three societies carried out necessary repairs, two were demolished and four evacuated, bring the number of dangerous buildings down to 16. However, following complaints regarding unfair practices in the process of tagging unsafe buildings, local MP Rajan Vichare has questioned the authenticity of private audit panel.
[/alert]
Suresh Golani