Corporators: Absence of policy stalling civic markets redevelopment

At the improvements committee meeting on Tuesday, corporators cried foul as the civic body is yet to finalise a policy for its municipal markets. They allege that the absence of such a policy has held up over 30 redevelopment proposals for markets.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner Milin Sawant said a detailed report on the current status of the BMC's municipal markets would be prepared by the civic administration in around 15 days.

Congress corporator and improvements committee member Mohsin Haider said the policy issue had held up the redevelopment of many municipal markets is in abeyance since 2006. "After the Crawford Market redevelopment project, the BMC has not taken up any development of markets on its own or through public-private partnerships because we do not have a finalised market policy. Many dilapidated market buildings are in need of repairs and have been left unattended. In some instances, the vendors themselves have approached the BMC asking for permission to construct basic repairs on the market to which the corporation has said refused because of a lack of policy," said Haider.

Also, a number of newly developed markets have not yet been handed over to vendors for operation and have been lying vacant for years. For example, as per a point of order raised by BJP corporator Prakash Gangadhare, the Khatauwadi market in Tardeo has been lying vacant since it was developed 10 years ago. The BMC had acquired it for Rs 7.45 crore as the plot was reserved on a privately owned land. Today however, it remains unoccupied as has seen encroachments.

"Many markets are developed on by private owners depending on if the plots reserved for these fall into public or private land. Through the incentive of Transferable Development Rights, many owners have developed 15 per cent of their land as required but still lie vacant as the BMC has not yet handed over possession to vendors. The court has directed the BMC to create a policy but the administration is taking too long with it - it has been over three years now," said Shiv Sena corporator Ramakant Rahate.

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