• Misuse of plot near Mantralaya on Madame Cama Road:
An investigation using the Right to Information Act by Mumbai Mirror has found out that the 19 ministerial bungalows situated on Madame Cama Road in Mumbai, next to the New Administrative Building of Mantralaya, are illegal.
The 5-acre plot had originally been earmarked for a public garden and, in 1979, the government had even promised that the bungalows would be demolished and the plot handed over to BMC for developing the garden.
This, however, was never done. The ministerial bungalows were constructed in the 1950s and are being maintained by the Public Works Department. When Mirror sought an explanation from PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, he said, “It’s a very old case. I do not remember much.”
Several prominent citizens have opined that the government must hand over the plot for the garden. Among them, architect P. K. Das, whose firm had once prepared a plan for the makeover of Nariman Point, said, “In the Development Plan for Mumbai, the land is reserved for a garden and is meant for public use. This has been taken over and built upon. The ministers’ bungalows and sheds housing PWD offices must be cleared and the land utilised for its reserved purpose. There is a comprehensive redevelopment plan for this plot by the MMRDA, which was cleared by the state’s empowered committee which is headed by the chief secretary.”
The area’s citizens group is all for a garden. Atul Kumar of the Churchgate Nariman Point Residents Association said, “The city is starved of green spaces. The government must do away with these bungalows and develop a garden on the plot.”
• Eastern Freeway:
The third phase of the Eastern Freeway up to Ghatkoper, which is thrown open to motorists in April, has witnessed a 23% increase in cost ever since work started in 2007.
“The project’s cost rose from Rs. 847 crore to Rs. 1,106 crore because of delay in rehabilitation of project-affected people and slow execution of work,” RTI activist Anil Galgali said.
Galgali had sought information about the Eastern Freeway project from the MMRDA. The work on the stretch between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya to Anik Junction was scheduled to be completed by 18th January, 2011 after the work order was issued in January 2008. “There was a delay of 29 months in executing this phase of the project,” Galgali added.
• RTI & Housing Society in Mumbai:
At a special general body meeting on Sunday 30- 03-2014, of the Salsette Catholic Society in Bandra, it expelled a member for harassment through the RTI Act.
54 of the 73 members present voted in favour of the motion to expel Leslie Almeida. Earlier, Almeida had not replied to a showcause notice issued by the society that said it would allow him to present his side. But at the meeting, the members did not give Almeida an opportunity to speak as they constantly interrupted him. The committee, however, made a 90-minute presentation on why he should be expelled.
Father Michael Goveas, parish priest at St Andrew’s Church, suggested an inquiry be set up to prove the allegations against Almeida. The society’s secretary, Cornel Gonsalves, said the society had been dragged into a personal dispute, and has been harassed with hundreds of RTI applications.
