Mumbai : Using large salt-pan land along the eastern coast of the city for mass housing and slum rehabilitation projects is likely to remain a distant dream for the state government. The Union government is unlikely to approve any such proposal in the near future, sources have said.
The state government had recently indicated that realigning of proposed Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavli metro route along eastern express highway is under consideration to facilitate development of the salt pan land. But, sources have indicated that though the metro line may be realigned, development of the salt pan land is unlikely to get the Centre’s nod.
The issue of over 5,500 acres of salt pan land in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai has been a contentious issue between the state and the Union governments for several years. During the previous UPA government, the Union government had appointed an empowered group of ministers under the then agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to settle the issue. But, due to various legal and environmental issues, the land couldn’t be transferred.
The new BJP government in the state too had promised after coming to power that the land would be used for mass housing and slum rehabilitation projects. Kirit Somaiya, the BJP MP from North-east Mumbai had been pushing the proposal to use the land for housing projects. But, sources in the Central government have indicated that such a transfer of the land is unlikely.
According to highly placed sources, the Union government has neither received any formal proposal in this regard, nor are they likely to give a nod if they receive one.
Abhijit Mulye
