As per the CRZ norms, the C and D wards fall in the ‘CRZ II category’, which restricts any sort of redevelopment. This, they say, has put at stake the lives of 62,000 people occupying the 1,100 dilapidated buildings located here.
Four groups viz. the Remaking of Mumbai Federation (RoMF), the Citizen Forum of C Ward Development (CFCD), Old Building Landlord Welfare Association (OBLW) and Federation Association of Maharashtra (FAM), are helping the residents by raising their voice to the concerned authorities through a signature campaign.
Lalit Gandhi, chairman of RoMF, says, “CRZ II prohibits development in areas within 500 m from the sea. In that case, in these wards, especially, 500 m from the East and West both would leave us with just a strip of land in the centre since Mumbai is an island city. And at certain places, these distances overlap. That is why it’s necessary for the relaxation of the CRZ rules in the C ward.”
Mayank Gandhi, secretary, RoMF, and activist, says, “Around 90 per cent of these buildings have been constructed prior to 1940, much before the issue of the CRZ notification in 1991. The conditions
of the buildings are hazardous. If not redeveloped, these people will lose their lives.
” They also explained how the present CRZ regulations as well as the newly proposed CMZ Draft 2008-which the government claims is based on its progressive policies-don’t provide any viable development opportunity to inhabitants of cessed buildings.
The RoMF explained that the C ward is an urban zone for more than a century and does not fall under CRZ II (which governs areas that are ecologically sensitive).
The residents say that since the government has relaxed the rules for fishermen and koliwadas, they should get similar benefits as well since the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has relaxed rules for deserving cases.
“We are also original Mumbaikars residing in the area for more than a century,” they say. Gopinath Munde, vice president, BJP, who was also present at the meeting, expressed support for the citizens.
Gandhi further explained the status of the pilot project that has been set up to bid for urban renewal of C ward into a world-class city. For this purpose and as a part of the public private partnership, the RoMF has appointed Arup, one of the largest urban planning companies in the world, based in New York.
Ashok Raiji, principal, Arup, who has done a part of his studies in Mumbai, said, “If the government approves of this pilot project, then in 30-weeks we’ll chalk out the master plan.”
Tom Jost, town planner with Arup then gave an overview of the urban planning. He said, “We have to take into consideration the infrastructure, environment, transportation and development strategy of the C ward planning that it will undertake to convert Mumbai into a world class city. We will have to understand and resolve the long-term problems.”
Turning Mumbai into a world-class city may sound fancy but how does one relocate the heritage landmarks, open spaces, local markets, the residents and convince the reigning lords of the realty market? To this, Raiji said, “We will make all the necessary arrangements for relocation with the help of the RoMF. Certain structures like the heritage landmarks will not be touched.
The master plan that shall be executed will have 39 per cent more open spaces than the current 11 per cent.” Ironically, they claim that they have to yet look into the relocation of residents.
The petition presented at the meeting hopes to seek the government’s approval at the earliest. The dream of seeing Mumbai turn into another Shanghai may be far away but the shadow of death lurking over the lives of thousands of citizens is stark clear.