HC allows Bombay Dyeing to hand over Wadala plot for housing mill workers

Mill workers unions had argued that the mill cannot take advantage of the composite scheme.

The Bombay High Court Wednesday held that Bombay Dyeing was within its rights in deciding which of its properties in Wadala and Lower Parel it wanted to surrender to the BMC and MHADA under Integrated Development Scheme as provided under the Development Control Rules (DCR).

Mill workers unions had argued that the mill cannot take advantage of the composite scheme and surrender land from its property in Wadala alone and retain the more expensive textile mill property in Lower Parel for redevelopment. Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha,however,allowed Bombay Dying to surrender its land in Wadala in lieu of its land at Lower Parel. Bombay Dyeing will now surrender 66,651 sq m from its Spring Mills property in Wadala.

The company was required to hand over 52,331.55 sq m at Wadala and 12,823.39 at Lower Parel to the two agencies. It had urged the court to allow it to submit the land at one location in Wadala,instead of separately under the section 58 of DCR.

Story continues below this ad

The BMC now stands to gain 32.828 sq m,which will be used to create open spaces and public amenities while MHADA will avail of about 33,822 sq m for low-cost housing and flats for mill workers.

Taking no exception to Bombay Dyeing surrendering land only from its Wadala mill,the BMC had stated in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court that the availability of open space in the G-South ward that covers Lower Parel was 2.58 sq m per person while that in the F-North ward consisting of Wadala was 0.73 sq m.

Bombay Dyeing had contended that according to the ready reckoner,their land in Lower Parel was priced between Rs 65,900 per sq m to Rs 72,500 per sq m. However,the land in Wadala was priced at Rs 76,200 per sq m,the court recorded.

The court admitted another petition filed by the Sarva Shramik Sanghatana (SSS) that had claimed that while surrendering land from the defunct Spring Mills property,Bombay Dyeing had not taken into account the 10,000 sq m built-up area consisting of a grain godown,a chawl and a slum,based on which the percentage of land to be surrendered by the mill owners is calculated. The HC asked the disputed 10,000 sq m,next to the MHADA plot in Wadala,to be set aside.

Story continues below this ad

Bombay Realty,a division of Bombay Dyeing, has already delivered Springs,a luxury 40-storey residential tower and is currently developing two more premium residential towers at Wadala site. Bombay Dyeing Mill land in Lower Parel is also to be commercially developed, a company spokesperson said.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

HC allows Bombay Dyeing to hand over Wadala plot for housing mill workers

Mill workers unions had argued that the mill cannot take advantage of the composite scheme.

Mill workers unions had argued that the mill cannot take advantage of the composite scheme.