Citizens including local residents have lodged their objection to BMC’s tender for proposed auction of Municipal Property CS 439 (part) of Malabar Hill Division in D-Ward. The plot has a BEST Receiving Station and is situated next to the Shantivan Garden behind Hanging Garden.
Stating in their letter that the said plot forms a part of the green hill slope of Malabar Hill and the larger plot forms a part of the Green Heritage Precinct of Hanging Garden. The plot also falls under CRZ NDZ and within the Funnel of Vision of Hanging Garden where there is a restriction on development under the Development Control Rules.
The letter further mentions that a BEST Receiving Station stands on part of this plot because Electric Receiving Stations are a permissible activity on Garden plots. If BMC no longer requires an electric sub-station on the said plot, they are statutorily required to restore the Public Garden.
In the ending the letter says, ‘This plot cannot be auctioned for real-estate development simply because a BEST Receiving Station stands there. It still remains as a Green Plot where no real-estate development is permissible. In fact, this plot is part of the existing Shantivan Garden on CS 439 and we call upon BMC to restore this plot to the adjoining garden if it is no longer required for BEST Electric Distribution purposes.’
Local MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha supported the citizen’s demand and wrote to the Muncipal Commissioner asking him to stop the auction process immediately. He wrote in his letter to respect the sentiments of the local citizens and stop the commercialization of the plot.
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