Latest news with #MaharashtraRegionalTownPlanning
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maha restricts deletion of cemetery from urban DP
Mumbai: The state govt has issued directions under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act to all urban local bodies not to delete reservations for cemeteries/burial grounds from their development plans (DP). Any change of reservation of a plot reserved for cemeteries/burial grounds or deletion of such a reservation will now require cabinet approval. Maharashtra has 29 municipal corporations, 232 municipal councils, and 125 Nagar Panchayats. In an order issued early this month, the state urban development department (UDD) observed that several urban local bodies have issued notices under section 37(1) of the MRTP for modification of their DP to delete reservations for cemeteries/burial grounds. Section 37(1) empowers the Planning Authority to modify a final DP, but only if the changes do not alter the plan's overall character. Also, these proposals are being submitted to the govt for its approval. A senior govt official said the deletion of reservation for cremation/burial grounds is being increasingly sought from smaller municipal corporations and councils. "Often, these reservations are put on plots owned by private persons. Many do not want this reservation. We received proposals seeking change of use to Green Zone, Sewage Treatment Plant, and also deletion," said the official. The order states that as population in areas of urban local bodies is continuously increasing, reservation of graveyards/burial grounds is made in the development plan. "Exclusion of such reservations from DP deprives local citizens of the facility, hurts the religious sentiments of citizens, and creates law and order issues." The order further states that in public interest, the govt has issued a directive under section 154 of the MRTP Act to prevent encroachment on existing graveyards and burial grounds, not to regularise encroachment no matter how old it is, and no change to be made to reservation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Advocate Gayatri Singh said a particular process is followed by local bodies before reservations are placed in a DP and a similar procedure is to be followed to delete/change a reservation. "By issuing such a directive, state govt is taking away the rights of local bodies and is opening doors for change/deletion of other reservations. It is completely illegal," she said.
Indian Express
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Jain community demands BMC rebuild demolished parts of Vile Parle temple, engineers' union questions official's transfer
Members of the Jain community protesting against the demolition of parts of the Vile Parle Jain temple on April 16 met the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials on Monday demanding that the civic body rebuild the demolished parts. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Municipal Engineers' Union (MMEU), in a letter to the Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, questioned the administration's decision to transfer assistant municipal commissioner Navnath Ghadge, from the K/East ward under whose jurisdiction the temple was demolished. Anil Shah, trustee of the temple, said that the BMC's law department in an August 2013 resolution had legalised the structure. 'As per the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act, any action is to be initiated against the structure is barred by the act of its existence prior to 1962. Thus, the said structure which is seen authenticated cannot be demolished,' read the law department's resolution. 'The temple has been there since 1962, and its presence has been acknowledged in the city survey plan. Therefore, we have put forward our demand in front of civic officials that the demolished portions should be rebuilt by them. Tomorrow, the we will be putting forward a similar demand in-front of the minority commission,' Shah told The Indian Express. 'During the demolition drive, valuables starting from jewelleries to religious items like books, prayer beads, idols and vessels got damaged. Therefore, it is justified on our part to demand from authorities so that they rebuild the structure,' Shah added. Meanwhile when contacted, deputy municipal commissioner, Vishvas Mote told Express that the BMC is reviewing the matter. Meanwhile, in their letter, the MMEU stated that municipal engineers should not be made scapegoats under political pressure. 'Sudden punitive action without investigation demoralizes officials and hinders genuine efforts against illegal activities,' the MMEU letter said in their letter. Earlier on April 16, the BMC's K/East ward office demolished portions of the temple citing them to be illegal. Following this, politicians across party lines criticised the BMC and on April 19, the administration transferred the assistant municipal commissioner who was headed the ward office.
