Mumbai: Obsuring to Mumbaikars, the State Urban Development Department is quietly reducing the quantum of open space that will be available to the public.
The recent department approved the ‘excluded plan’ of the control and promotional regulation control of 2034 (DCPR 2034) for the K-East (East Andheri) ward, reducing open space requirements for 20 open spaces booked up to 50% and allowing 50% to Commercially exploited.
The increasingly stipulates that landowners need to provide public access to only 20% of the 50% ordered, effectively reducing public access to the ordered open space starting from 100% earlier to 10%.
TimesviewMumbai has an open space per person (1.28 m) among global cities.
The latest city development plan aims to increase it to 6.13 SQ M but this tends to remain on paper because the state government for years only encourages large-scale construction.
By shrinking open space, the state has realized it is shown where the priority is accustomed to.
20 Open spaces booked at Andheri Timur are part of the reason five star hotels.
All hotels with open space are all the way to the airport.
Previously, 100% of each of these open spaces were open to the public for limited hours.
Activists blame the government, BMC to reduce the new spacesthe plans open support the plot owner by allowing him to give up 10% to BMC to remain permanently open to the public.
In return, the plot owner really has to save 90% of the plot for its use (50% for commercial and 40% as a private garden).
“Before DCPR 2034, the plot was reserved for 100% open space open to the public.
Now the public will have access to only 10%, while the owner benefits from 90% of the plot.
In a hunger city from open space, how much more cruel Can the government be obtained? “Asked Activists and Organizers of the Watchdog Foundation, Godfrey Pimenta.
This is very contrasting to Singapore, where the government has ensured public open space in all upscale areas, allows public access to open areas even if it means crossing the hotel lobby.
Under 1991 Development Control Regulations, all 20 East Plots Andheri 100% are open to the public for certain hours in a day.
“Except for the ITC Grand Maratha hotel, there is nothing else that allows public access to this open space.
This is then assisted by BMC not installing boards in leading places to notify that these parks are open to the public.
Now the government and BMC Having helped hotels officially ensure the public did not have access to this open space, “said Pimenta.
Under the new rules, BMC has set “that 50% of this land in Sahar’s revenue village is provided for the park.
This open space on a development plan is not needed to be acquired by BMC.
The remaining 50% of the land is removed and included in Zone C only for purposes Commercial hotels and remain open to the general public during limited hours.
“The same rules offer the next choice for the plot owner.
He stated, “The owner can handle it more than 20% of the decline in open space booked to BMC to be permanently stored for the general public without compensation in any form and maintain the rest of the park as a park.
There is no floor space index / transfer of compensation for development rights In any form that will be permitted for areas that are permanently stored as parking and even for the area to be submitted to BMC.
“Nayana Kathpalia, Trustee Mandate, Nagar, said this was not at all good for the city that already had very little open space.