Mumbai: A day after ports and fisheries minister Nitesh Rane was quoted as having urged BMC to transfer reclaimed land from the coastal road project to Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) for commercial maritime activities, tourism and public events, he clarified that his letter to the civic body had been misinterpreted.
“My letter to the @mybmc has been misinterpreted! As expected! Anyways, it’s just a simple letter asking the BMC to have a revenue-sharing model if it does come up with any revenue generation measures like hoarding or events of any kind. MMB is not asking for any land or looking to reclaim any land! Hope it’s clear,” Rane posted on X.
However, before Rane made his stand clear, citizens, activists and opposition party politicians opposed the plan.
Activists cited CRZ regulations which prohibit commercial use of reclaimed land. Activist Zoru Bhathena said Rane’s letter overlooks these provisions and suggested the minister may have acted on misinformation and incomplete details provided by his team. “Under CRZ regulations, commercial use of reclaimed land is not permissible. Furthermore, these regulations contain a specific provision for Mumbai city, whereby all open spaces, parks and gardens within CRZ are classified as no-development zone (NDZ) green lungs where no commercial or residential use is permitted. The letter written by the minister has not considered these provisions of the CRZ regulations,” Bhathena said.
Breach Candy Residents Forum (BCRF) members said Mumbai has one of the lowest ratios of open spaces to population. “Based on this, the Supreme Court has mandated a minimum threshold of reclaimed land of the coastal road to be maintained as green spaces which is sacrosanct as has been also accepted by the state authorities. There can be no turning back on commitments made to the electorate and SC,” BCRF said in a statement.
“Hearing that some Dalaals of builders are asking for the open space of the South Bound Coastal Road we planned and initiated for Mumbai. NO! Mumbaikars won’t hand it over to you! This land belongs to us – Mumbaikars and not for handing it over to the dalaals of builders. The open space MUST remain with BMC only and only for open spaces and urban forest plantations, as we – Mumbaikars have planned. We will not allow the government to hand it over to builders or for hoardings as it wishes to!” Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray said in a post on X.
Architect Alan Abraham, who filed a PIL in HC in 2023 seeking changes to the proposed design of the land-filled portion of the coastal road to create more accessible open spaces, said he wasn’t surprised. “Slowly and steadily, land reclaimed for open space development is being repurposed for other uses,” he said.
