Your city may lose Mazagaon ground to developer

Unless the civic body acts quickly, the city risks losing a plot reserved for a recreational ground. HT reports.

Unless the civic body acts quickly, the city risks losing a plot reserved for a recreational ground.

HT Image

The 999 sq mt plot at Mazagaon, which belongs to the state government, was leased to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The BMC, in turn, sublet it to S.K. Developers.

Last year, on October 14, the developers issued a purchase notice of Rs 2.58 crore for the plot through architect Prakash Ghariya. However, the BMC hasn't acted on it so far.

The reservation of a plot ceases to be valid a year after a purchase notice is served unless the BMC begins to acquire the plot.

Hence, unless the BMC begins acquiring the plot before October 14 this year, the reservation will lapse.

The acquisition proposal was finally tabled in the civic Improvements Committee on Monday, but no decision was taken as several questions raised by the committee members remained answered.

"The ownership of the land is unclear. The one sending the notice is not the owner," said Congress corporator Upendra Doshi. However, the law officer said the purchase notice was valid.

"We don't want to wait till the last moment," said Kotak.

At least three more such purchase notices are waiting to be cleared.