In a letter to Municipal Commissioner K P Bakshi, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Guardian Minister Babanrao Gholap and town planning officials, the 60 corporators have demanded withdrawal of the proposal.

Dashrath Patil told reporters on Monday that the resolution (No 355) to dereserve plots on city survey nos 6874 to 6883, 72, 17, 53 and 54 in the city, Anandvalli and Deolali, had been passed at the NMC's General Body meeting on June 22, 1998, without discussion.

The NMC subsequently issued advertisements in local newspapers on August 18, inviting suggestions and objections from the public. The plots had been reserved for a garden, post office and playground.

Mayor Ashok Dive denies that the resolution was passed in haste and that the corporation had not violated any norms. He also wondered why it took members so long to register their protest. After scrutinising suggestions and objections, the proposal would be sent to the state government for approval, he added.

Meanwhile, the three Sena corporators - Dashrath Patil, Balasaheb Matale and Chandrakant Pande (brother of the Sena's district unit President, Vinayak Pande) an eight Congress corporators addressed a press conference on Monday, to register their protest. They accused the NMC of initiating the proposal to favour some builders.

The three Sena corporators leading the campaign are likely to face action as the ruling Sena-BJP had issued a whip on the issue.