Corporators against proposed changes to development plan

The city’s corporators are unhappy with the proposed amendments to the development control regulations (DCR).

The city’s corporators are unhappy with the proposed amendments to the development control regulations (DCR).

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Corporators are worried about the redevelopment of cessed buildings (those constructed prior to 1940) because of the 20% hike in the premium on the ready reckoner rate and the rule that calls for compulsorily reserving six metres on two sides of a building to allow emergency services such as the fire brigade to easily access it.

Last week, municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar made a presentation on the proposed changes to the DCR before chief minister Prithviraj Chavan at the Mantralaya and also received Chavan’s approval on the same.

Currently, the premium to be charged on the ready reckoner rate for the redevelopment of cessed buildings is 80%. But the new development rules suggest a 100% premium on the reckoner rate.

On Wednesday, Ashish Shelar, Bharatiya Janata party leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), raised the issue in the civic body’s general body meeting. “The amendment would increase funds in the BMC’s treasury but it won’t help tenants of old buildings,” said Shelar.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), too, opposed the amendment. Mangesh Sangale, MNS group leader said, “There might not be a six-metre space available around old buildings. Also a 100% premium would prove to be too expensive for tenants looking to get their building redeveloped.”