BMC: 70ha reclaimed land to be open space

The civic body, in an e-mail to more than 400 residents and citizen groups on Tuesday, stated that 70 hectares (ha) of reclaimed land will be available as open space in the coastal road project.

The development comes three days after the residents of Bhulabhai Desai Road sent more than 250 e-mails to the BMC questioning its contradictory claims on the open space. The residents and activists had accessed a letter sent by the BMC’s engineering department to the environment ministry, which stated that 70ha will be made available as green space. However, on its portal, the BMC had stated that 15.5% of land would be dedicated as open space, which amounts to 14 ha.

BMC’s e-mail stated, “The break-up of the reclamation area shows that it cannot be said only 14ha is being reserved for recreational green space; it is actually 69.50ha,” the e-mail stated.

However, activist Zoru Bhathena alleged that BMC is “fudging figures”. “Their plan is to reclaim the land at any cost and decide how to mislead the public later,” said Bhathena.

The project’s chief engineer, in a message to HT, confirmed that 70ha will be available as green space, but did not reply on the residents’ allegations of contradictory claims.