The IPS officer’s body had been kept at the Government Hospital in Sector-16 after Amneet raised allegations of “dilution” of the First Information Report (FIR) lodged in the wake of the death, and demanded that the names of IPS and IAS officers named in Kumar’s “final note” be included as “accused”.
Following Bombay High Court’s direction to the State Government to reserve 35 per cent of SRA project land for open spaces, the Maharashtra government on Friday issued a Government Resolution (GR) making it mandatory for all Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects to reserve at least 35 per cent of land as open space under Regulation 17(3)(d)(2) of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR), 2034.
The GR issued by the Housing Department, states that developers will have to hand over the developed open area to the municipal corporation or local planning authority within 90 days of receiving the Occupation Certificate (OC).
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The move follows a June 19 order of the Bombay High Court in a public interest litigation filed by NGO Alliance for Governance and Renewal (NAGAR). The court had observed that the absence of adequate open spaces in SRA projects was affecting the quality of life of residents and needed to be strictly regulated.
Under the new rule, only 65 per cent of the total plot area can be used for construction, while the remaining 35 per cent must remain open and accessible to the public.
The open areas must be developed with landscaping, walking tracks, benches, play equipment, fitness zones, lighting, drainage and safety facilities before being transferred to the civic body. A board must also be installed declaring, “This is a public open space.”
To ensure compliance, the government has ordered the formation of a Special Monitoring Committee headed by a Deputy Chief Engineer of the SRA. The panel will regularly inspect projects, track the status of open spaces, and submit reports every two months, which will be uploaded on the SRA’s official website.
If any project exceeds the 65 per cent built-up limit or fails to maintain the required open space, corrective action will have to be taken immediately. The GR also allows for disciplinary action against responsible officers in cases of violation, while projects providing more than 35 per cent open area may be recognised for compliance.
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Developers will be required to provide a maintenance fund or a three-year indemnity undertaking to ensure proper upkeep of the open space even after it is handed over to the local authority.
The SRA has also been directed to file half-yearly affidavits before the Bombay High Court listing approved projects and the status of open-space transfers. The court will monitor compliance with these directions.
A senior Housing Department official said the step aims to ensure “better living conditions and breathing space in dense rehabilitation colonies and to prevent over-concretisation in urban areas.”
Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With approximately seven years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Senior Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai bureau.
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Experience
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