BMC to decide on purchase of recreational ground plot today

The decision to purchase the designated recreational ground (RG) plot in Juhu will be taken today in the civic general body meeting. It is most likely that the general body will clear the proposal, and will begin the process of acquiring the land back from its current owner by paying him Rs 63 crore.

The decision to purchase the designated recreational ground (RG) plot in Juhu will be taken today in the civic general body meeting. It is most likely that the general body will clear the proposal, and will begin the process of acquiring the land back from its current owner by paying him Rs 63 crore.

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The opposition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been putting pressure on mayor Shraddha Jadhav to take up this issue before the date of the purchase notice lapses on December 3.

The BMC was served a purchase notice for the plot measuring 7,441 sq m on December 4 last year, by the Juhu Vile Parle Development Cooperative Housing Association, a group of 14 housing societies that have held the plots since 1960.

Municipal commissioner, Swadheen Kshatriya said they have written to the state government asking them to guide the BMC in the way these plots should be acquired at minimal cost. “These plots are for public use and so we should get them in concessional rates,” Kshatriya said.

The BMC now needs to buy these plots before their reservation lapses in order to keep them reserved as public spaces. If the civic body does not purchase the plot in time, the plot owner can take the plot back according to the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, section 127.