Encroachment concerns grow over setback areas along RC Marg in Chembur

Residents of Chembur have raised concerns over the alleged misuse of public land along Ramakrishna Chemburkar Marg RC Marg claiming that setback areas mdash mandatory open spaces surrounding a building mdash earmarked for future road widening are being used by shopkeepers and showroom owners possibly by paying rent to developersAccording to locals several highrise buildings have come up along the stretch over the past five to six years but the setback land meant for road widening has been encroached upon by commercial establishmentsResidents say no roadwidening work has begun yet even though the land is supposed to be handed over to the BMCWhat is the issueCitizen activist Rishi Marwah explained that under BMC rules developers must hand over the setback portion of land to the Development Plan DP department once construction is approvedldquoThe DP department then transfers the land to the respective ward office which must protect it until the road widening is carried outrdquo Marwah saidSetback area outside Mahavir Millennium is being misused PicsRitika GondhalekarldquoHowever along RC Marg the setback areas are being used by private players Since the BMC has denied collecting any rent or commission either these shops are using the land illegally or they are paying rent to developersrdquo he addedResidents say neither roadwidening work nor any inquiry into the alleged commercial use of the land has been carried outMisuse of public propertyLocals say the stretch experiences heavy traffic during peak hours and widening the road would ease congestionldquoOnce a developer gives setback land they receive Transferable Development Rights TDR in returnrdquo said resident Jayant KharwadldquoIf the authorities are not protecting the land developers could be making money by allowing commercial use of public property A wider road is already proposed in the Development Plan 2034 so why hasnrsquot the widening startedrdquo he askedAnother resident Nagendra Acharya questioned how builders received Occupation Certificates OCs if the setback area was encroached on ldquoIf the BMC has put up its board there why is it not taking responsibilityrdquo he askedQuestions raised by residents1 Which authority is responsible for protecting setback land until road widening begins mdash the DP department or the ward office2 Why have Occupation Certificates not been reviewed despite alleged encroachments3 Why do completed buildings lack open spaces mdash has setback land been shown as open space to gain approvals4 Who is collecting rent for the commercial use of what is now public land5 What action will be taken if developers are found profiting from the use of setback land6 Which civic officer was responsible for taking possession of land and why was it not secured earlierDevelopers deny roleGirish Gangwani owner of Heritage Developers said the setback land had already been handed over to the DP department ldquoAt this point it is no longer our property but government land We do not know who the shopkeepers may be paying rent tordquo he saidHowever a manager at one of the showrooms told midday that the establishment owns its premises and does not pay rent ldquoThe outer area is being used because it has neither been developed as a road nor a footpath So far no authority has asked us to stop using itrdquo the manager saidAuthorities respondMWest ward officer Shankar Bhosale said the BMC has begun taking corrective measures after receiving complaints ldquoWe have issued notices to the developers to remove any structures or activities on the setback landrdquo Bhosale saidHowever road widening cannot begin because construction of some buildings along the stretch is still underway he explainedBhosale added that the ward office is not aware of who may be earning money from the use of the land but the matter will be taken up