Civic general body rejects proposed lease policy

The civic general body rejected the new amended lease policy on Thursday. The decision will give relief to city’s 3,395 leasehold properties, mostly located in south and south central Mumbai, which are given on lease on a permanent basis or for 999 years.

The civic general body rejected the new amended lease policy on Thursday. The decision will give relief to city’s 3,395 leasehold properties, mostly located in south and south central Mumbai, which are given on lease on a permanent basis or for 999 years.

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After being rejected by the civic improvements committee on August 5, the policy is now a part of the civic general body’s agenda. The policy was rejected unanimously by all 227 corporators, without any discussion.

“Though the policy has been rejected, the civic administration will redraft the policy,” said a senior civic official from the estate department.

If the draft policy was cleared, out of 4,176 plots, 3,395 residential and commercial buildings on civic-owned plots, which have been given on lease for 999 years at nominal rates would not have been permanently owned by the lessees. The draft policy said if these plots came to BMC for redevelopment or for change of user, their lease would be reduced to 99 years.

Bhalchandra Shirsat, BJP corporator and chairman of improvements committee said, “Reducing the lease period may not stand in the court of law. It is very difficult to change the lease period from permanent or 999 years to 99 years,” said Shirsat.

The policy would have directly impact leasehold lands at Dadar, Matunga, Worli and in most of Byculla and Sion apart from suburban Deonar, Ghatkopar and Andheri.

Shirsat said, “The old policy is still is in force.” Meanwhile, sources from the estate department said 150 redevelopment proposals are pending with the BMC for development under 33(7) of the DC Regulations because they wanted to bring the new policy.