BMC plots policy to boost school edu ……Sharad Vyas
Mumbai: A new land-for-school policy being prepared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) that will make it mandatory for schools to hand over 50% of the built-up area of an upcoming school project to the civic bodyis set to change the face of education system in the metropolis. The schools, in return, will get FSI (floor space index) exemption on the remaining 50% of the land.
So, if a school has 1,000 sq m of land, 500 sq m will go to the BMC. The school will then be allowed to build on 1,000 sq m as it would have surrendered half of its built-up area.
With 1,135 plots for schools still vacant, the BMC is looking at a huge area for itself to start new schools. If the schools coming up on each of the 1,135 plots give the BMC its share of land, school education can be improved a lot, said an official. The new rule will allow private schools to have a separate entrance and wing for the area handed over to the BMC. For maintenance, the corporation will allow NGOs and private trusts to adopt the portion as well. The proposed modification to the development control regulations (DCR) for this purpose will soon be forwarded to the state urban development department.
If implemented earnestly, the scheme will pave the way for more municipal schools. This will help us implement the Right to Education Act, which stipulates that all kids aged between six and 14 should receive free and compulsory education, said a senior civic official. The policy, officials said, is being framed after it was found that many posh schools were not adhering to the existing mandatereserving over 15% of total seats (in a project coming up on reserved plot) for civic-run school students. Since a corporation resolution (CR) to this effect was passed in 1994, not much has come to the BMC, said an official.
While the DCR are amended to make room for the BMCs land-for-school policy, the civic body, as a stop-gap arrangement, has decided to demand 15% of the built-up area (not free of FSI). This is likely to help the BMC generate roughly 12,00,000 sq ft. The temporary measure will only be applicable to primary schools, said officials.