On Public Land As Public Asset, A Few Questions For The BMC

Dear BMC and Maharashtra government, it seems that your handling of land and land-related issues in Mumbai has become increasingly confusing, opaque, and illogical. The people of Mumbai feel that their concerns are deliberately kept in the dark or confused. Here are a few questions for you to consider.

In your role as custodian of public land, how do you see yourself relating to this asset? Legally, you are responsible for holding it on behalf of the people of Mumbai, keeping public interest at the forefront of your decisions. However, numerous acres of public land have been leased or monetized in the name of 'development' without proper public consultations or discussions. What benefits have been derived by Mumbaikars from the monetization of these lands?

Your decisions seem to be contradictory at times. For instance, the Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra West is being maintained as a football ground despite its original reservation being for a convention center. Similarly, the Alexandra Cinema in Byculla and a fire station in Versova had their statutory reservations changed to allow residential use. Why is there such inconsistency in planning decisions? Are you keeping track of these contradictions?

The felling of mangroves for the Versova-Bhayandar coastal road and the removal of salt pan lands for Dharavi redevelopment are prime examples of this. These areas serve as Mumbai's flood-mitigation infrastructure and were permitted by the courts citing 'public interest' with certain conditions. How does removing these natural barriers and concretizing areas align with your goal of providing a better Mumbai?

Public assets need protection, especially when they provide invaluable environmental, social, and economic functions. Parks, playgrounds, wetlands, mangroves, and natural landscapes recharge groundwater, absorb stormwater, reduce flooding, improve air quality, lower urban temperatures, support biodiversity, strengthen neighborhoods, and improve both physical and mental health. Yet, these assets seem to be undervalued in your decision-making process.

Most Mumbaikars are too busy with their daily routines to question every land deal involving public assets. As custodians and guardians, your role demands accountability. How can you ensure that the decision-making process is inclusive and guided by the principle that public land is a public asset? Why are the voices of the people not being heard in these crucial decisions? For whom is Mumbai being built, ultimately?