Acquisition of two plots in Kurla for speedy completion of SCLR
Acquisition of two plots in Kurla to pave way for speedy completion of SCLR project
Mumbai, April 13, 2010 – An acquisition of 5,100 square meters of land in Kurla has been proposed by the State Government to pave way for speedy completion of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) project. The acquisition of rights including leasehold rights over the plots along with the structures appurtenant thereto will help widen the scope of SCLR under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
The State Government, through its Urban Development Department is set to acquire two plots – CTS No.408A admeasuring 347.5 square meters and CTS No.450/1 to 40 admeasuring 4789 square meters – in Kurla District for the purpose of widening of the Santacruz–Chembur Link Road (SCLR). The acquisition is proposed in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 32 of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act, 1974 (Mah.IV of 1975).
The State, therefore, has requested all stakeholders and other interested parties to file show cause, in writing, to the Principal Secretary to Government, Urban Development Department, within the period of one month as to why the said plots of land should not be acquired. It is further specified that any such cause shown pursuant to this notice, which may be received during the said period, will be considered by the government.
MMRDA may exercise the rarely used clause of forcible acquisition, to clear the last major obstacle that stands in the way of the Santacruz Chembur Link Road.
With the issue of rehabilitating tenants of 13 buildings in Kurla’s Tilak Nagar settled, the only hurdle remaining is the 88 tenants of three buildings in Kurla’s Netaji Nagar.MMRDA offered them flats of 360 sq ft in Sahakar Nagar transit camp which is already accupied by some tenements. SCLR project begun in 2004 and the 2008 deadline missed, MMRDA now aims to complete the project by June 2011.MMRDA never given clear picture to these PAPs. The tenants, however, had approached Bombay High Court demanding flats of 450 sq ft on the lines of the Tilak Nagar residents. The petition has already been admitted.
However, the official said, “If we have to give 450 sq ft flats, we may have to rehabilitate them even as far as Mankhurd.”Can U shift your house in similar circumstances? Nobody has opposed the development. MMRDA has denied residents’ right of allotting ownership houses. As MMRDA has told, these Netaji Nagar residents are being shifted to Mankhurd.
Meanwhile, the tenants’ advocate, Uday Warunjikar, said, “If they invoke this clause, it will be a mala fide act. We will fight it out in court.