MM : You will question Crawford mkt deal : Sept 14, 2007
YOU will question Crawford mkt deal
Noted RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi is planning to get Mumbaikars to question
their corporators on the controversial Crawford market redevelopment deal
PARIKSHIT JOSHI AND PANDURANG MHASKE
If politicians thought they were the last word on the Crawford market
redevelopment issue, they have another think coming, according to noted RTI
activist Shailesh Gandhi. He is all set to take the issue to the public. He
wants Mumbaikars to question the controversial deal, which, according to
him, could mean a loss of Rs 1,000 crore to the civic administration.
Terming the campaign of questioning the corporators over the Crawford
market plan, as a truly citizen’s movement, Gandhi wants to rope in NGOs,
citizens groups and prominent Mumbaikars to create public awareness over the
plan.
WHY THE RE-DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS UNDER A CLOUD
The Mahatma Phule Mandai (Crawford market) encompasses 22,000 square metres
of space and is located in the heart of the city. The plan allows a private
developer to raze the existing 11 structures and build two highrises to
house the current tenants. The BMC is expected to get developed property
covering 26,495 sq m valued at Rs 16,000 per sq m, thus saving it Rs 42.4
crore. In return, the builder will have to sell 32,987 sq m of developed
land at a market value of Rs 3,50,000 per sqm thus earning Rs 1,049 crore.
WHY THE PLAN IS BEING DEBATED
The plan, which has been in cold storage, was revived by the BMC house on
September 11, 2007. Though most of the political parties had opposed it
while it was being passed, it was only the NCP that had staged a walkout.
According to Gandhi, he and others had contacted 85 corporators who had
voiced their opposition to the Crawford market deal. But not one of them
spoke against the proposal and it was passed within minutes.
THE CITIZEN’S CAMPAIGN
Gandhi will speak to NGOs, prominent citizens and other citizen groups. “I
will tell everyone I know,” he said, adding that it would be carried further
to people they know so that the campaign reaches the maximum number of
people. It will be a totally citizens’ campaign without any leader or
centralised command, he added. Gandhi wants people to question their
corporators over their stance on the deal, building up psychological
pressure on them. “If awareness is created and corporators know that they
have to pay a political price to pay, we will experience more accountability
and transparency,” Gandhi said.
CITIZENS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
We elected you as a corporator to serve and safeguard our interests. We feel
you have let us down, and want answers to the following questions.
Q1. Do you agree that you are personally accountable to your constituents?
Yes / No.
Q2. Did you act against public interest because of orders from your party
leaders?
Yes / No.
Q3. Citizens see that the passing of this proposal was an act against public
interest which is a loss of Rs 1,000 to every Mumbaikar. We feel the only
reason for this action is corruption. Do you agree? Yes / No
Q4. If you do not agree, please give us the
reasons for so many corporators not safeguarding our interest?
CORPORATORS SAY Mayor Shubha Raul says if Gandhi claims that 85 corporators
opposed the re-development plan, then why did nobody vote against the
proposal when it came up for passage in the BMC house? She says let Gandhi
conduct a campaign.
– Yogesh Sagar, BJP corporator
I do not know Shailesh Gandhi. But when he called me, I told him that I was
committed to my party.
– Sunil Prabhu, Shiv Sena corporator
Shailesh Gandhi called me to explain his point of view. But I also explained
my party’s stance over the issue.
– Rajhans Singh, Leader of the Opposition
Shailesh Gandhi
Publication:Mumbai Mirror ; Date:Sep 14, 2007; Section:City; Page Number:6