A stormy session at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reignited debate over the use of reserved public land, with the opposition calling for a comprehensive audit of transit camps constructed on plots earmarked for civic infrastructure. The demand surfaced during the first Improvements Committee meeting in four years, where corporators closely examined decisions taken during the administrator-led phase when the elected body was suspended.
The flashpoint is a 27,043 sq metre parcel at Jijabai Nagar in Worli, designated in the Development Plan for sewerage infrastructure, including a proposed sewage treatment plant (STP). Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi alleged that the BMC asserted ownership over only 17,756 sq metres, effectively relinquishing nearly 10,000 sq metres now occupied by transit camps developed by private builders.
“The BMC is merely a custodian of public land. It cannot simply give away its claim to a large parcel reserved for critical sewage facilities,” Azmi said, terming the decision a “criminal dereliction of duty” that compromised public interest. He also referred to earlier objections from the District Disaster Management Authority, which had cautioned that construction on the site could heighten flooding risks. The land sits above major sewer lines linked to the Lovegrove Sewerage Pumping Station, a vital component of Mumbai’s drainage system.
Azmi warned that any damage to these lines, particularly during monsoon months, could lead to severe inundation in Worli and adjoining areas.
The matter has since reached the Bombay High Court, which has ordered the removal of transit camps from the disputed site and directed that the plot be restored to the BMC for its originally intended sewerage use.
Opposition leaders have expanded their criticism to other alleged irregularities during the administrator’s tenure, demanding a full audit of transit camp approvals on reserved lands and strict action against officials found negligent.
Source: Hindustan Times
