To plug the loopholes in development plan, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will undertake an exercise to reclassify slums in the city. Over the years as civic body failed to take cognisance of changing development, multi storeyed buildings came-up in notified slums area. So on one hand, independent house owners are paying hefty property tax, those residing in plush multistoreyed buildings in so called slums are enjoying rebate. The lacunae in development plan was exposed by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Dayashankar Tiwari during discussion about MRTP and MMC Act provision regarding administration’s stance against violations of Floor Space Index (FSI).

 

 

Tiwari during the discussion in general body meeting on Thursday brought to notice of House that one of the first multistoreyed buildings of city, Chandralok, the landmark of Central Avenue, has sprung-up in a notified slum. For that matter entire Itwari, Gandhibagh and Central Avenue is notified as slum and yet many plush multi storeyed buildings have been constructed and many of them in violations of norms, Tiwari pointed out.Earlier, Pravin Datke, senior BJP corporator, sought to know the difference between provisions of MRTP Act and MMC Act.

 

Replying to querry, Pramod Gawande, Assistant Director, Town Planning, NMC, said that when notice is issued under MRTP Act there is no scope for appeal to Deputy Collector, Additional Collector, whereas in MMC Act a stay can be granted against notice of demolition issue by concerned Municipal Corporation by appellate authority.

Taking the cue, Datke asked NMC administration why should dichotomy exist in taking-up action against violation of FSI and law should be applicable to everyone with same zeal. For this, the administration had no answer and the senior corporator then raked up the issue of Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe’s previous statement on matter of Property Tax where latter claimed that it is his discretion and he would not allow any leeway to defaulters. Datke said then same logic be applied and NMC should issue notices for violation of FSI under MRTP Act in which there is provision to take action within a week of notice.