BJP legislator moves notice of motion to allow development of public amenities on saltpan lands
The civic body has proposed unlocking some saltpan land for affordable housing. File pic
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If the BJP has its way, it will soon find a way to put the unutilised saltpan lands to use and build amenities like schools, gardens, hospitals and cemeteries on it. To that end, in the recently passed Development Plan (DP) 2014-2034, the civic body has proposed unlocking some of the saltpan land for affordable housing. Consecutively, BJP corporator Prabhakar Shinde has moved a notice of motion to allow development of public amenities on these lands that are not utilised for salt farming.
Land lying waste
According to the data with the BMC, of the 2,177-hectare saltpan land in Mumbai - owned in part by Mumbai Port Trust and Salt Commissioner - around 430 hectares is not being used for its defined purpose and can instead by put up for development. So, in the revised DP, civic body has marked reservation of 260 hectares of saltpan land for affordable housing.
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The proposal states, "On a large chunk of land, salt farming is still going on, but there is also some vacant land. However, the BMC earlier could not develop anything because the Salt Commissioner does not give permission." Shinde added, "Because of this denial, we citizens are suffering for lack of basic amenities. The BMC should coordinate with Salt Commissioner and take over the saltpan lands that are unused."
BMC plan
A senior civic official said, "There is encroachment on 50-100 hectares saltpan land already. If given the go-ahead, we are eyeing construction of at least 10 lakh affordable houses in the next 20 years."
On Monday, in his speech during the final discussion for DP, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said, "We have reserved land on saltpan area for affordable housing. With these proposed projects, citizens can benefit as houses on these land will cost only about Rs 15 to Rs 20 lakh."
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