Mumbai: ‘Zero’ Parking For Slum Dwellers In Luxury Project In Worli; Petition Filed In National Green Tribunal

Worli, 4th March 2023: The National Green Tribunal has filed a petition regarding the provision of 1,726 parking spaces for 260 flats and no parking for 2,300 slum dwellers in a luxury project in Worli. The project came into the limelight after D Mart’s Radhakrishna Damania bought 28 flats for Rs 1,238 crore. In this case, notices have been issued to the developer as well as the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, and the hearing of this case will be held on 24th April.

In this slum rehabilitation scheme spread over 38,857 square meters i.e. about ten acres of land, 14 buildings such as Base Plus 10 and Base Plus 22 have been constructed for 2,300 slum dwellers. Apart from this, nine more rehabilitation buildings will be constructed. The buildings to be sold include one 90-story residential and another 65-story star hotel and residential towers.

1,432 as per Environmental ‘No Objection’ Certificate 2012 and 1,726 for sale buildings and 500 for rehabilitated buildings as per Revised Environmental ‘No Objection’ Certificate 2016. But 1,726 parking spaces have been provided for the buildings to be sold. However, the fact that not a single parking lot has been arranged for the rehabilitated buildings has been brought to the attention of the National Green Tribunal in Pune through a petition that was presented before the Bench. At that time, while passing the order on 2nd February 2022, the arbitrator had constituted a joint committee.

The committee was asked to conduct a physical inspection and submit a report within a month. After the report was received by the arbitrator, it was pointed out that the environmental conditions of 2016 were not met. When the project was started, there was no requirement to provide parking for slum dwellers as per the old development control rules.

According to the new rules, parking was made necessary. Accordingly, the environmental certificate in 2016 contained such a condition. This project is incomplete. It was explained before the arbitrator through the developers that more rehabilitation buildings are to be constructed and necessary parking arrangements will be made at that time. However, despite the order of the arbitrator, the developer did not arrange parking. On the other hand, the flats in the buildings to be sold were mutually sold.