Civic body says adhering to HC order to pay project-affected people in Mahul will come in the way of other development work in the city
Mahul residents live in a deeply polluted area. File pic
Keshav Ubale, assistant commissioner, Estate Department, said that it will cost the civic body approximately Rs 8.3 crore a month to pay the rents. "In other words, the civic body has to spend Rs 100 crore in a year as rent and an additional Rs 25 crore as deposits. How can we spent this much amount from the taxpayer's money?" he asked. "The impact will not be limited just to finances. This will halt several projects like road widening, nullah widening, and the redevelopment of dilapidated buildings for the next four to five years, as the civic body doesn't have any other alternative accommodation."
Mahul residents are surrounded by factories and refineries and continuously breathe in noxious fumes. File pic
Another official, who did not want to be named, said the SRA had spent a few hundred crores on the construction of the buildings in Mahul before handing them over to the BMC and it will cost the BMC another huge amount to demolish these structures and construct new buildings. "A huge chunk of the property tax raised in the city will go into building PAP homes," said the official. While a BMC officer said they are in the process finishing the formalities to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, another officer said the BMC is also considering taking the issue to the National Green Tribunal.
On Tuesday, all stakeholders — oil and refinery companies, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, and Urban Department officials — met at the BMC headquarters to discuss the high court order. In keeping with the NGT order, oil companies have already started implementing various measures and sources claimed that the pollution levels are much lower than before. MPCB officials will submit a report on the status of the planning and NEERI is ready to submit a fact-finding report, said an official present at the meeting.
5,500
No. of homes BMC has allocated to PAP in Mahul
Also Read: BMC: Experts to review contractors' designs for bridges
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
