Malad residents affected by road widening-pin hopes on HC
Malad residents affected by road widening-pin
hopes on HC
Malad (west) residents impacted by road widening. As against
16 buildings along road number six in Mamlatdarwadi, Liberty Garden which falls under P/North Ward, residents of four buildings filed petitions in the HC in first week of May, accusing the BMC of widening the road in violation of due processes. The remaining buildings are in the process of filing similar petitions
The Residents of Mamlatdarwadi in Malad West are in a desperate bid to save their compounds from being engulfed by road widening work being undertaken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Reportedly, road number six is currently 4.5 metres wide. The BMC is widening it to nine metres, which threatens several buildings along the road, said residents
The remaining buildings are in the process of filing similar petitions.
As per Thackare digging will be undertaken very close to our pillars. This could affect the structural integrity of the buildings.
If they give away their compound, their building will have no parking space,” said Nahush Nene, another resident. “Should they give away their land and park our vehicles on the road, only to be penalised by the civic body?”
Dejul Shah, a landlord, said road number six has considerable green cover including 52 big trees which will be affected by road widening.
‘Undue favour’
The residents allege the road is being widened hastily in violation of due procedures and to favour a developer who wants to build a high rise in the area.
On April 15, reportedly the BMC served the residents a notice under section 299 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, saying the demarcated area would have to be cleared within seven days, failing which the BMC would clear it.
“The notice was sent although the BMC had not demarcated any area within our buildings,” said Kamlesh Deorukhkar. “Worse, no discussions were held about the road widening, nor were we intimated about it.”
Then, on April 30, a bulldozer made its appearance, ready to raze the compound walls. Residents mobilised in response, first to stall the bulldozer from demolishing their property, then to submit a formal complaint to the BMC.
“When they tried to submit the complaint, they were told that the time for objections had passed and their only option was legal recourse,” said Deorukhkar.
It was only after this that residents of two buildings moved the high court, which asked the BMC to conduct a survey of the area and identify any chances of structural damage. Subsequently, two other residents also filed petitions in the high court which are yet to come up for hearing.
The residents allege the road is being widened hastily to facilitate a high rise on a plot adjacent to the P North ward office.
“They are widening this road exactly to nine meters, which will enable the developer to get approval for a high rise,” said Dejul.
Kundan Valvi, assistant commissioner, P North ward, brushed aside residents’ allegations, saying the road was being widened in accordance with the 2034 development plan.
They have followed all the procedures and gave proper time to the residents,” he said.
Valvi said a survey was conducted in the area on Thursday, following directions from the high court. “A final decision will be taken after orders from the high court,” he said.
The petition filed by residents of two buildings is up for hearing on May 9.
News Edit KV Raman
