Reclamation is the answer to land crisis: Maharashtra govt panel

A state government-appointed panel has suggested that almost 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of land be reclaimed by 2025.

A state government-appointed panel has suggested that almost 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of land be reclaimed by 2025 to resolve the issue of land crunch in the city and the Mumbai metropolitan region. Former BMC chief DM Sukhtankar, architects PK Das and Bharat Yamsanwar, state principal secretary UPS Madan and ex-MMRDA chief BK Phatak were on the expert panel.

Senior state officials said land will be reclaimed at Bhaucha dhakka (Ferry wharf), Sewri, Wadala, Uran and Alibaug. "Reclaiming 1,000 hectares of land will help the city grow further. More houses will be created for the homeless," said Yamsanwar whose firm Team One is working on the Shivaji memorial in the Arabian Sea.

He said the proposed reclamation will be 10 times more than the land reclaimed by MMRDA.

"It will have a central business district. The government has a great vision and wants to develop the reclaimed land like the Palm Island in Dubai," Yamsanwar said.

The state authority will invite suggestions and objections from people before taking a final decision. In the past, the state government has successfully reclaimed two major portions — Backbay (27 acres) and the Bandra-Kurla Complex and Bandra reclamation (925 acres).

"The Backbay and BKC reclamation did not sort out the land problem in the city. In fact, land rates have gone up," said Pankaj Joshi, executive director of Urban Design Research institute.

"I am not against reclamation of land, but it should be done in a scientific manner. Otherwise, it will be disaster. There are other parts of land which can be connected through public transport and opened for public housing and industrial development," Joshi said.

Environmentalist Rushi Aggarwal said the government must first study the impact of the reclamation on climate. "Because of reclamation, the sea level will rise and result in extreme weather. If the reclamation is done next to mangroves, we will oppose the move," he said.

Aggarwal has also demanded that the state makes the panel report public. "Extensive reclamation in Backbay has caused severe erosion of the coast. Several buildings, including the mayor's bungalow, face the fury of the sea. The hydrology of the creek must be examined before any reclamation takes place," he said.

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