BMC to maintain amenities in private layouts ……….Sukhada Tatke I TNN
Mumbai: The BMC will now bear two-thirds of the cost of maintenance of civic amenities in private layouts in the city and suburbs. A proposal to this effect was passed by the BMC improvements committee on Tuesday.
The civic body had observed that several amenities—such as roads, sewerage lines and streetlights—surrounding private layouts (cluster of buildings)— remained unattended for years after development. During the saffron regime, a committee was set up in 1996 under former minister Prakash Mehta to make recommendations on the issue. The committee had recommended that the cost should be shared equally (one-third each) between the state government, BMC and residents. However, in 2002, the state ordered the BMC to bear two-thirds of the cost, while the remaining will be borne by cooperative housing societies.
“Citizens used to always ask why they should suffer bad roads and infrastructure even though they are taxpayers. They are entitled to basic amenities even after their layout is developed,’’ said BJP corporator Ashish Shelar.
The committee that was set up in 1996—after having studied 195 private layouts—had recommended that immediate attention be given to 82 of them. Some of the older layouts include Garodia Nagar, Ghatkopar, Chheda Nagar, Chembur, Bangur Nagar, Goregaon, Usha Nagar, Vikhroli, Yogi Nagar, Borivli and Bhavani Nagar. Earlier, residents of all 195 plots used to maintain internal roads, streetlights and stormwater drains.
But now the BMC will pay 66% for all 195 plots and residents will have to bear only onethird of the total cost.
“Once the roads are repaired, these private roads will be declared public, and then care will be taken of them, just like all public roads. Then, budgetary allocation will be made for its maintenance. The assistant commissioner will be in-charge of the maintenance,’’ said BJP leader Bhalchandra Shirsat.