BMC’s local area plans: Development of important areas may get stuck, say experts

Local area plans include creating individual, specific and detailed plans for rehabilitation of slums and more.

Identifying the need for comprehensive community-based plans, the BMC has introduced the concept of local area plans in its draft development plan (DP) 2034. These plans, will however, follow a similar exhaustive procedure like the DP, delaying development of crucial areas, experts say.

The local area plans include creating individual, specific and detailed plans for rehabilitation of slums, redevelopment of cessed buildings, development of koliwadas and gaothans, heritage precincts and transit-orient-development zones.

Pankaj Joshi, Executive Director, Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) said, “BMC took more than five years to draft the DP, the local area plans will take longer with such an exhaustive procedure. The processes outlined are rigorous and time-consuming. And why are only some areas being outlined?”

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Apart from specific designs and independent plans for these years, the DP also lists extensive mapping of infrastructure and consultation with citizens at every step of planning.

Joshi also raised apprehensions on BMC invoking a lesser used section 33 of the Mumbai Regional Town Planning Act, 1956 for undertaking local area plans. “These acts haven’t been used in the past 49 years and neither have these areas been developed. Then what is the guarantee now?” he added.

Activists have also raised concerns over BMC not determining a specific time-frame for the implementation of these plans. Aravind Unni, activist from Hamara Shehar Vikas Niyojan (Our City Development Campaign) said, “The areas mentioned under local area plans are the ones that need immediate intervention. The BMC has to specify a timeline, earmark funds for the development of these plans and give ensure a security of tenure. With these plans, BMC has left 20 per cent of the city in limbo.”

Activists raised these points at a session with municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte in the BMC headquarters last week, where they pointed out that BMC also has to undertake an extensive capacity-building programme to undertake the massive exercise of implementing local area plans.

tanushree.venkatraman@expressindia.com

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