Failed to protect ‘no development zones’: Kunte

In its development plan (DP) 1991, Aarey Milk Colony has been marked as a ‘no development zone’, but DP 2034 has touted the large green space as a potential economic centre for suburban Mumbai. Kunte said, “The words no development zone have unfortunately not been followed in its truest sense in the last two decades. The development control regulations allows the civic body to set-up educational establishments and undertake other activities even in such zones. Our proposal is to have more open development in Aarey that can be made accessible to citizens who can also monitor the activity. We are looking to develop Aarey to protect it and not leave it open to create another Dharavi in the city.”

BMC proposes development on 1,009 hectares, leaving less than 300 hectares of the green cover intact. Activists have criticised the BMC’s plan of sacrificing the city’s green lungs to man-made central park, theme park, a botanical garden and other activities which also include setting up educational campuses and a bus corridor in order to turn Aarey as the growth hub in the suburban part of the city.

On being questioned on the BMC’s move to reduce its own benchmarks for providing open spaces in the city, Kunte said, “One has to be realistic in setting targets, it is easier said than done. We have done our best in setting targets for providing amenities to citizens.” From DP 1991 which reserved 2 square meter per person (sqm pp) open space in city and 6 sqm pp in suburbs, BMC has reduced it to a uniform 2 sqm pp all over the city in DP 2034.

BMC’s general body headed by Mayor Snehal Ambekar gave permission to the administration to make the draft plan a public document earlier this week. Once public, the draft plan will be open for suggestions for the next 60 days. Citizen groups demanded ward-wise consultations on thematic issues and the DP to be published in English, Hindi and Marathi. Kunte said the DP will be made available to citizens in English and Marathi in another week and the civic body will also work on a schedule to meet stakeholders in the next few months.