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FEARING that redevelopment projects in Mumbai would come to a grinding halt,the Maharashtra government is planning to appeal against a recent Supreme Court (SC) order making it mandatory for buildings to leave adequate open spaces for recreational activities at the ground level and for smooth passage of fire engines.
On December 17,the apex court had ruled that developers would have to set aside a minimum 15-25 per cent of a plots area at the ground level as recreational space. In recent times,the planning authorities have permitted several building projects to provide this space at the podium level,diluting the open space norm.
The SC order also ruled that the developers keep at least six metres of space on one side of the plot to enable fire-fighting.
A senior government functionary said,The orders implementation would ground redevelopment projects of old and dilapidated building situated on narrow plots in the island city and the suburbs. The government has plans to challenge the ruling.
With several cessed buildings in the island city standing on narrow plots,their redevelopment will become unviable if the order of leaving six-metre space on one side is implemented,a source added.
Last week,Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte issued a circular asking his officials to implement the SC order,although the BMC has expressed the opinion that blanket implementation of the order would impact several redevelopment projects.
The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI),an umbrella organisation of 1,500-plus builders,has already decided to seek a review of the SC verdict.
Sources close to the chief minister said the state government was also opposed to the SC directive in the order that lays down specific norms for reconstituting the Technical Committee on high-rise buildings.
sandeep.ashar@expressindia.com
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