Mumbai Govt Targets Release of 5,500 acres Salt-Pan Land for Development

October 20, 2009	(Be the first to rate this story!)  Loading ...
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The release of 5,500 acres salt-pan land for “development'’ is expected to top the agenda of the new government, irrespective of which coalition comes to power. In fact, for several months before the October 13 assembly election, hectic lobbying was on in Mumbai and New Delhi to open up the vast tracts of land in the suburbs. But the move was put on hold by the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre when MP Milind Deora and other prominent citizens raised an alarm over the move. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) too had favoured the exploitation of these lands for real estate purposes, but some of its prominent members like Abhishek Lodha vehemently opposed the move. With a fresh mandate and the next polls five years away, the new government is expected to open up salt pans.

Deora took up the matter at the highest level of the Congress and warned that the party would unwittingly become a party to the disaster which would befall Mumbai if the proposal was pushed through. Deora, citing the opinion of environmentalists like Bittu Sehgal, said Mumbai would witness heavy flooding if the salt pans, which now function like balancing chambers, are developed. Lodha had objected in writing to a paper prepared by Pranay Vakil, co-chairman of the FICCI real estate committee, which favoured the commercial exploitation of these lands. Lodha wrote to FICCI, saying, “I am not in agreement with the view that salt pans should be developed. I believe that these lands are a vital buffer for the city….I do not believe that FICCI should take a stance which will be in opposition to public sentiment…'’ “Even though I am a builder, I think all of us should place the interest of Mumbai before any personal interest,'’ Lodha said.

According to the FICCI report, Mumbai would “greatly benefit from the availability of more land'’. Citing a BMC report, it said the population of central suburbs like Chembur, Mulund and Ghatkopar was expected to rise from 40.64 lakh to 43.03 lakh by 2011. “A major share of these 5,500 acres of salt pans is located in the central suburbs and development of this land could alleviate not only the burden of the aforementioned population increase, but also the pressure on Mumbai real estate prices,'’ it reasoned.

News Published Under:   Mumbai |

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