Planners slam govt bail-out for illegal Thane buildings…..Nitin Yeshwantrao
Say Move Will Affect Devpt In Maha Towns
Say Move Will Affect Devpt In Maha Towns
Thane: There is widespread anger and confusion over the DF governments announcement in the state legislature on Wednesday to protect all unauthorized structures in Thane district built prior to December 2000.
Town planners in the civic administration here said the move would complicate future planning and development work in places such as Thane,Kalyan-Dombivli,Bhiwandi,Mira-Bhayander,Vasai and Navi Mumbai,besides setting a precedent of legitimizing the acts of slumlords and unscrupulous builders.
Town planners in the civic administration here said the move would complicate future planning and development work in places such as Thane,Kalyan-Dombivli,Bhiwandi,Mira-Bhayander,Vasai and Navi Mumbai,besides setting a precedent of legitimizing the acts of slumlords and unscrupulous builders.
It frustrates the UPAs ambitious urban reforms agenda initiated five years ago under JNNURM.The Centre had targeted some goals when it proposed to fund crores of rupees in infrastructure projects under the urban renewal mission.However,in the wake of such leniency to illegal buildings,the planning process goes for a toss, a senior bureaucrat at the Thane municipal corporation told TOI.
Upset by the states volte-face in this case are social activists who have been pressing for demolition of illegal constructions.The announcement made by industries minister Narayan Rane on Wednesday contradicts the affidavit filed by state chief secretary J P Dange in the high court that demolitions will continue without a hitch.The court had ordered these demolitions after a lengthy hearing.Now,all of a sudden,the state government has developed cold feet, said Thane-based activist Nitin Deshpande.
He pointed out that though housing is a fundamental right of every citizen,such protection to illegal constructions affects the quality of everyones life.
Already,unplanned development has resulted in water shortage,inadequate medical care,traffic chaos etc.The overall quality of life of the citizen takes a beating because of political support to illegal activities, Deshpande said.
The announcement,however,has come as a welcome relief to those who have been living in unauthorized buildings for close to two decades.The buildings were constructed in violation of the development control rules and by flouting all FSI norms,but were occupied by people in need of a home.The state housing boards failure to address the huge demand for affordable homes despite the availability of vast tracts of land in Thane district resulted in the mushrooming of illegal constructions.
Activist Kaustub Gokhale from Dombivli said: By legitimizing such buildings,the government is turning its back on planned development of cities and encouraging growth of vertical slums.