BMC got only 4,900 suggestions on Mumbai DP in six days

When the Maharashtra CM decided to give the expert panel an extension to study the Mumbai DP, activists and elected representatives had hoped more residents would take the opportunity to send their suggestions and objections.

When Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis decided to give the expert panel an extension to study the draft development plan (DP) for Mumbai, activists and elected representatives had hoped more residents would take the opportunity to send their suggestions and objections.

However, in the past six days, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received only 4,900 suggestions.

This takes the total of opinions sent in by Wednesday to 15,000.

The number is significantly higher than the 4,000 suggestions received for the existing land use (ELU).

“The number of letters coming in will keep us extremely busy, especially next week as the deadline is April 24,” said a civic official, requesting anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

About 10,000-odd suggestions have come in the past 15 days. Activists are demanding that the deadline be extended so more people can write to the civic body.

Resident groups said they will continue educating locals about the errors in the draft DP and the importance to register the objections before the deadline.

Trushna Vishwasrao, leader of House in BMC and a Shiv Sena corporator, said, “Our party has been demanding an extension. However, 15,000 is a very small number as the draft DP will affect the entire city. Lakhs of objections are needed for it to be scrapped.”

R Balachandran, chief engineer development plan department, was not available for comment.