Calls to Include affordable housing and informal sectors in Development Plan Draft
After the Maharashtra government was forced to announce a change in the draft development plan (DP) owing to gross mistakes and critical comments by various urban planners, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief has assured that the new draft of the Development Plan (DP) 2034 will be completely error-free. Citizen forums and activists who protested against the older DP draft have however requested the government to ensure that the final draft is not only error free but also includes details like affordable housing, map slums and rest of the informal sector.
Many experts who were part of various citizens committees raising their objection against the original DP reveled that their outrage over the draft DP 2034 was not only because of its factual errors but also owing to the fact that it did not consider slums and affordable housing projects. The factual errors also could be gauged from the fact that well known areas and buildings like the Jehangir Art Gallery as a hospital. While experts believe that factual errors could be checked and corrected in a time span of four to five months that alone would not be sufficient. Citizens have also requested BMC and the state government to ensure that the DP plan offers a distinct marking of various heritage and religious structures in the city.
Since the DP draft as it stands today ignores the informal sector completely, citizen forums have raised their voice collectively against the government and BMC officials. It’s important that recommendations made by people are also considered say various prominent citizens, architects and town planning experts. The outrage over the draft DP 2034 is not entirely wring as providing for affordable housing, map slums and details about the rest of the informal sector must be a part of the development plan draft to ensure full development of the city.
Affordable Housing, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Development Plan, Development Plan Draft, DP, DP 2034, DP plan
