BMC to spend Rs 300 crore on acquiring 113 plots

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to acquire 113 reserved plots in the city for the purpose of road-widening, primary health care centres and recreation grounds.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to acquire 113 reserved plots in the city for the purpose of road-widening, primary health care centres and recreation grounds.

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For this, it has made a budgetary provision of Rs 300 crore. The amount is to be utilised in the financial year 2011-2012.

"We will try to acquire as many plots as possible in the next year," said a senior official from the Development Plan department.

Citispace, an NGO fighting for protection for open spaces, is happy about the budget provision but has doubts about its implementation.

Nayana Kathpalia co-convenor of Citispace, said, "I am glad the civic body is making a substantial provision for the purpose but it should be implemented properly. Nobody knows how much was spent on the acquisition of open spaces last year. All such dates should be made public."

Among the 113 plots, 53 would be acquired for road-widening, 52 for open spaces - 34 for playgrounds and 18 for parks and gardens. Four plots will be for primary health care centres and one plot each for a BMC market, a dhobighat, part of Nair hospital and sweepers' quarters.

If in the next 10 years the municipal corporation fails to develop or maintain the reservation of the plot, the owner can then a notice asking the BMC to purchase the land from him.

The process of acquisition of the plot should begin within a year of the notice, failing which the reservation lapses.

The collector initiates the process of acquisition of a plot by appointing a special land officer. The municipal corporation then pays to the owner the price finalised by the special land officer.