Latest news with #DevelopmentControlRegulations
Time of India
24-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bombay HC directs new development plan, prompt steps to improve infrastructure and regulate development in Lonavala-Khandala region
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Lonavala Municipal Council and the state govt to prepare new development plan, take prompt steps to augment and improve the infrastructural facilities in the Lonavala-Khandala region. This includes the provision of water supply, solid waste management, sewerage, stormwater drainage systems, maintenance, repairs, and widening of roads. The court also directed the council to act against unauthorised constructions within its jurisdiction in Lonavala. The High Court directed that the municipal council must publicise its grievance redressal mechanism and, along with the state formulate a fresh set of Development Control Regulations for the twin-hillstations. This is to ensure that new constructions in the region are carried out strictly in accordance with the infrastructural facilities, the HC bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne directed while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Lonavala Khandala Citizens Forum and applications filed by others. "If the ecology of the region is not protected, the whole charm of the Lonavala-Khandala region would be lost," the judgment authored by Justice Marne observed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo It added that measures must be adopted so "that the ecology of the hill towns is maintained and is not destroyed by uncontrolled development coupled with a lack of requisite infrastructure." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The PIL, filed in 2007, sought to highlight the plight of the local residents of the Lonavala-Khandala region and aimed at improving the civic amenities and regulating the construction activities in the region, the High Court noted. It sought to highlight activities occurring in the Lonavala-Khandala region that put a huge strain on infrastructural facilities like water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, roads, and traffic. The twin hill stations, one of the most popular weekend getaways, are fast losing their charm due to rapid urbanisation and tourism. The High Court observed, "As the weekend getaway became more and more popular, with the number of tourists on a given monsoon weekend crossing two lakh, garbage heaps and blocked drainages became a regular feature of the otherwise scenic paradise, which started getting marred by uncontrolled constructions and lack of basic civic amenities. " It noted that the PIL and proactive citizens sought to highlight how authorities "have abandoned duties of proper civic governance, which is in violation of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which includes the Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment." Noting the "alarming situation," the PIL highlighted that the High Court passed various interim orders in 2007, and in 2008, a report submitted in court pointed to lacunas on the part of the civic administration over infrastructural aspects. Following an order of April 2014, a new mechanism was created under which all proposals received by the Municipal Council in respect of large-scale developments were directed to be examined by an expert committee. The High Court, after a detailed hearing and analysing the four main issues of requisite infrastructure, action under unauthorised constructions, controlling new construction, and necessary regulations to govern development in the region, directed that it would also be open to the state govt to consider the inclusion of the Lonavala-Khandala region in the list of hill stations for the purpose of applicability of Special Regulations. The petitioner would be at liberty to make a representation to the state govt for that purpose.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bombay HC directs new development plan, prompt steps to improve infrastructure and regulate development in Lonavla-Khandala region
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Lonavla Municipal Council and the state govt to prepare new development plan, take prompt steps to augment and improve the infrastructural facilities in the Lonavla-Khandala region. This includes the provision of water supply, solid waste management, sewerage, stormwater drainage systems, maintenance, repairs, and widening of roads. The court also directed the council to act against unauthorised constructions within its jurisdiction in Lonavala. The High Court directed that the municipal council must publicise its grievance redressal mechanism and, along with the state formulate a fresh set of Development Control Regulations for the twin hillstations. This is to ensure that new constructions in the region are carried out strictly in accordance with the infrastructural facilities, the HC bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne directed while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Lonavla Khandala Citizens Forum and applications filed by others. "If the ecology of the region is not protected, the whole charm of the Lonavala-Khandala region would be lost," the judgment authored by Justice Marne observed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enlarged Prostate? Do this simple trick before Bed and see what happens Prostate Health Journal Click Here Undo It added that measures must be adopted so "that the ecology of the hill towns is maintained and is not destroyed by uncontrolled development coupled with a lack of requisite infrastructure." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The PIL, filed in 2007, sought to highlight the plight of the local residents of the Lonavla-Khandala region and aimed at improving the civic amenities and regulating the construction activities in the region, the High Court noted. It sought to highlight activities occurring in the Lonavla-Khandala region that put a huge strain on infrastructural facilities like water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, roads, and traffic. The twin hill stations, one of the most popular weekend getaways, are fast losing their charm due to rapid urbanisation and tourism. The High Court observed, "As the weekend getaway became more and more popular, with the number of tourists on a given monsoon weekend crossing two lakh, garbage heaps and blocked drainages became a regular feature of the otherwise scenic paradise, which started getting marred by uncontrolled constructions and lack of basic civic amenities. " It noted that the PIL and proactive citizens sought to highlight how authorities "have abandoned duties of proper civic governance, which is in violation of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which includes the Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment." Noting the "alarming situation," the PIL highlighted that the High Court passed various interim orders in 2007, and in 2008, a report submitted in court pointed to lacunas on the part of the civic administration over infrastructural aspects. Following an order of April 2014, a new mechanism was created under which all proposals received by the Municipal Council in respect of large-scale developments were directed to be examined by an expert committee. The High Court, after a detailed hearing and analysing the four main issues of requisite infrastructure, action under unauthorised constructions, controlling new construction, and necessary regulations to govern development in the region, directed that it would also be open to the state govt to consider the inclusion of the Lonavla-Khandala region in the list of hill stations for the purpose of applicability of Special Regulations. The petitioner would be at liberty to make a representation to the state govt for that purpose.
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
HC upholds eviction of 48 slum dwellers for implementing rehab scheme
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday ordered the eviction of 48 slum dwellers, who had kept on hold a slum rehabilitation scheme meant for 689 hutment dwellers by challenging the authority of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to evict them. (Shutterstock) The case arose out of a slum rehabilitation project under the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971, which dealt with 689 slum dwellers at the Aman Shanti Co-op Society. Out of this, 645 were declared eligible for rehabilitation, with 641 already vacating the premises to facilitate the construction. The SRA delegated a tehsildar to evict the remaining occupants. The tehsildar on August 22, 2024 passed an order, directing the occupants to hand over possession to the developer, India Construction. However, the occupants approached the Apex Grievance Redressal Committee (AGRC), which dismissed their appeal on May 20, 2025. Subsequently, they moved the Bombay high court, raising questions on the jurisdiction of the tehsildar in the matter. Senior counsel Girish Godbole submitted that the tehsildar lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application, therefore the entire proceedings stand vitiated. He contended that despite a notification declaring the plot as a slum area was issued, the chief executive officer (CEO) of SRA cannot assume jurisdiction over it without a specific declaration made under the provision of the Slum Areas Act. Advocate Mayur Khandeparkar, appearing for the developer, said, 'The proper execution of the slum rehabilitation scheme is being held at ransom by the petitioners, which ought not to be permitted.' He also submitted that the contentions raised by the petitioners are unsustainable. While they were seeking benefits under the slum rehabilitation scheme, they were also challenging the jurisdiction of the same authority to entertain the proceedings of the case. Dismissing the petition, the single judge bench of justice Manish Pitale held that a declaration under the Slum Areas Act was not necessary for sanctioning a scheme of slum rehabilitation governed by the Development Control Regulations. The judge said that since the petitioners are not opposed to the rehabilitation scheme, they cannot be permitted to turn around and pick and choose provisions of the Slum Areas Act at liberty to suit their convenience. 'The petitioners have conceded to taking benefits of the slum rehabilitation scheme being implemented by the SRA. Therefore, they cannot claim that the CEO of SRA or his delegate can have no role to play while considering their eviction for speedy implementation of the same scheme,' the court said. Directing them to vacate the premises by July 11, 2025, the court said that petitioners are holding on to possession, which is creating unnecessary hurdles in speedy implementation of the scheme. 'The petitioners cannot be permitted to hold such a vast majority of slum dwellers to ransom by raising such pleas of hyper-technical nature while challenging the impugned orders,' the bench concluded.
India Today
24-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Mumbai's Kamathipura poised for redevelopment: Why residents are excited
The decks have been cleared for the largest such cluster redevelopment project in Mumbai with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) floating tenders for the redevelopment of Kamathipura in south Mumbai. The MHADA is looking at appointing a construction and development agency for the will cover around 943 cessed buildings (those that pay a repair cess to MHADA), and 350 non-cessed buildings, 14 religious places and two schools run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Many of these buildings are over a century old and, hence, in a dilapidated condition. Put together, 9,761 tenants, including 8,385 residential and 1,376 commercial, will be covered. This also includes 1,760 landlord crumbling buildings in the 15 lanes that will be reconstructed include houses that measure around 100-150 square feet. The smallest tenements are just 60 sq ft, forcing many people to sleep on the roads at night. It is not uncommon to find even more than one family living in a matchbox-sized room. Residents also complain that the floors of these buildings, which are built on lands reclaimed from swamps and marshes, are sinking. Now, the residents will get around 500 sq ft houses, and commercial units will be given structures of the same redevelopment will be done in an integrated manner under Regulation 33(9) of the Development Control Regulations by the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board, which comes under MHADA. The successful bidder will receive around 567,000 sq metres of development rights; a housing stock of approximately 4,500 new units is expected to be In December 2022, the state cabinet approved a proposal to appoint MHADA as the nodal agency for the 27.59 acres cluster redevelopment scheme, which will be the largest such Brownfield project in Mumbai and cover approximately 100,000 the 18th century, the Telugu-speaking 'Kamathi' workers from the dominions of the Nizam of Hyderabad came to Mumbai. They worked as construction labour and settled on a marshy plot of land in south Mumbai. In 1804, the government reclaimed this land to house these workers and thus, Kamathipura, or the 'area of the Kamathis', was Kamathis also staffed Mumbai's textile mills, integrated with the local Marathi culture, played a seminal role in the development and growth of Mahatma Jotiba Phule's Satyashodhak Samaj, and were part of the vanguard of the 'Samyukta Maharashtra' movement that ensured statehood for Maharashtra in 1960. In his seminal work on the role of the Telugus in the development of Mumbai, journalist and author Manohar Kadam refers to them as the sword arm of the Samyukta Maharashtra gradually, this area developed an unpalatable reputation of sorts due to the sex trade operating from some of its lanes. Mumbai's position as a port city and military centre, coupled with high numbers of migrant workers, led to a rise in this trade. In colonial Mumbai, apart from Indian sex workers, it was not uncommon to find European women who were engaged in the Ashwini Tambe mentions that in the colonial era, they lived principally in Kamathipura. This has also been depicted in Hindi films, most recently the Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). S.M. Edwardes, the former police commissioner of Bombay (1909-16), wrote that the arterial Cursetji Shuklaji Street, on Kamathipura's borders, was known as 'safed galli', or white lane, due to the European sex historian Deepak Rao noted that Shuklaji Street also had Chinese residents, Chinese social clubs and opium and gambling dens, and even a Chinese graveyard has left much of this past behind. It is now a market for textiles, electronic goods and recycled scrap, and the sex trade is taking its last gasps. But the stereotypes continue to persist, much to the chagrin of residents. This also overshadows the larger contribution of Kamathipura to contemporary instance, young Ambedkarites such as Namdeo Dhasal and fellow poet J.V. Pawar, who stayed at 'Vaakdi Chawl' at Siddharthnagar in Kamathipura's lane number one, birthed the Dalit Panther movement on May 29, 1972, to protest against the caste Vishal Yelle, a Kamathipura resident and general practitioner, welcomed the redevelopment plan. 'Now that the tender has been floated, we are more than halfway through. All residents, shopkeepers and landlords are eagerly awaiting the redevelopment for years,' he said many families who had given their dwellings on rent and shifted to larger houses in places like Virar were also expected to move back to Kamathipura once the area was redeveloped. 'Kamathipura has excellent rail connectivity due to its proximity to the Mumbai Central Railway Station, access to hospitals and playgrounds. The only issue that locals face is the small size of their houses,' he Patel, four-term Congress MLA from Mumbadevi, whose constituency covers Kamathipura, said the project had the potential to transform the lives of the people. 'MHADA must undertake this work in a transparent manner and ensure that it is completed within a period of five to seven years,' he say the redevelopment will help change the way their working-class locality is perceived by the society at large and boost their prospects in terms of jobs, marriage proposals and even loans and credit cards. This is regardless of the dwindling presence of the 'red-light' area in Kamathipura. Many brothel owners have sold or rented their premises to traders and manufacturers of goods like bags and jeans, and many women involved in the sex trade have shifted to the distant suburbs. Some of those who ply their trade stay in parts of the eastern suburbs and beyond and travel here for to India Today Magazine- Ends
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
MHADA extends amnesty scheme for housing societies awaiting occupancy certificates until December 31
In a huge relief to housing societies that are waiting for occupancy certificates, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has also extended the time for its two current special amnesty schemes until December 31, 2025. The extension, sanctioned under the supervision of MHADA's vice-president and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal is likely to benefit almost 80 housing societies in Mumbai. The extension is for two schemes: one for issuing occupancy certificates (OC) to redeveloped buildings under the 1991 Development Control Regulations (DCR), and another for waiving interest on additional premium amounts charged during redevelopment under MHADA's jurisdiction. According to Authority Resolution No. 6260, MHADA's Mumbai Board will continue to waive interest on pending additional premiums levied on housing societies. These societies will now pay only the principal amount, relieving the financial burden that has slowed the granting of occupancy certificates for most projects. At the same time, the Building Permission Cell is also offering an amnesty scheme for buildings redeveloped under DCR 1991. The scheme gives a 'concession' of up to 75 per cent on penalty charges imposed for unauthorised use of rooms like enclosed flowerbeds or balconies and minor variations from approved plans. It will be applicable to buildings that took building permissions under DCR 1991 till November 12, 2018. Several societies were issued No-Objection Certificates (NOC) or Letters of Intent (LoI) between 29 July 2004 and 4 June 2007 and were subsequently requested to pay extra premiums, but on account of non-payment, their occupancy certificates are pending. Consequently, people occupying these societies have been faced with increased utility bills, tax dues, and inconveniences in the sale or transfer of the flat. 'While physically, the majority of buildings have been completed and are transferred to the societies by developers, the financial liability of outstanding premium payments has stayed with the societies as well as members. The interest waiver scheme now provides them with a realistic route to regularisation,' a MHADA spokesperson said. Where building plans have been changed above approved limits, a 75 per cent concession on penalty is permissible under the amnesty scheme, subject to recovery of fees on revised plans.
