Pranav Birje | The News Bulletins
A delegation led by former North Mumbai MP Gopal Shetty held a high-stakes meeting with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani at his office. The discussion focused on the long-pending and highly debated issue of Occupation Certificates (OC) in Mumbai.
The meeting addressed procedural flaws in the current Maharashtra Government resolutions. Key highlights and demands include:
Key Policy Demands and Decisions
“Occupation to All” Policy:
The delegation demanded the removal of the current 800 sq. ft. limit for OC exemptions. They proposed that all residential buildings and apartments built according to sanctioned plans should receive an OC, regardless of their size, under the principle of “Occupation to All.”
Inclusion of Commercial Buildings:
Currently, OC provisions for commercial structures are restricted to schools and hospitals. In a landmark move, it was decided during the meeting to lift these restrictions and grant OCs to all types of commercial buildings.
Timeline for Implementation:
The BMC will prepare a draft proposal within the next two days to submit to the state government. The delegation urged government approval to be secured within the week.
Revision of the 1962 ‘Datum Line’
A critical issue discussed was the ‘Tolerated Category’ for buildings. While the BMC recognizes structures built up to 1962, the rapid expansion of Mumbai and the housing crisis led to massive construction beyond that year.
The Conflict: While Slum Act protections have been extended to huts built up to 1976, 1985, 1995, 2000, and finally 2011, the BMC’s datum line for permanent buildings has remained stuck in 1962.
The Demand: The delegation strongly demanded that this datum line be extended to at least the year 2000. This would prevent residents from facing legal notices, evictions, and harassment during minor repairs or reconstruction.
Commissioner’s Response: Commissioner Gagrani agreed with the principle of the demand. The delegation has urged that this matter be forwarded to the Urban Development Department immediately for a final resolution.
Impact
These two historic decisions are expected to provide massive relief to millions of Mumbai residents and significantly reduce administrative delays and costs for the BMC.
Delegation Members Present:
Gopal Shetty (Former MP)
Ganesh Khankar (BJP Group Leader, BMC)
Bala Tawde (District President)
Adv. Siddharth Sharma
Architect Arvind Nandapurkar
Adv. Vivekanand Gupta