Clear old-bldg redevelopment pleas fast: HC

Mumbai: In a major push for the redevelopment of old, dilapidated buildings, the Bombay high court has paved the way for CRZ permission and litigation in such cases to be put on the fast track. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Nitin Jamdar cited that around 500 applications were pending for approval before the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MZCMA). They also cited a statement by former municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar on how red tape was stymieing the redevelopment of over 15,000 old buildings in the island city.      The judges said the present system had resulted "in undue delay in granting environmental clearances even in cases of reconstruction on small parcels of land having dilapidated old buildings".      The court has directed the state and the MZCMA to consider setting up additional committees to hear applications for CRZ clearance for redevelopment of old buildings on small plots in Mumbai. "Such committees may meet at least once in a week and the recommendations of the committees may be placed before the MCZMA at its immediate next meeting. The committees should consider such applications expeditiously and preferably within two months from the date of receipt," the judges said.      The high court also ordered that courts in Mumbai city shall give priority to cases involving redevelopment of old buildings.      The court was hearing a petition filed by a developer who is undertaking the redevelopment of Ramkrishna Niketan at Shivaji Park. A pre-1940 cessed building, it is 500 metres from the high tide line and its managers were asked by the authorities to take clearance from the MCZMA since it was in a CRZ II area.  GROUND REALITY  • 15,000 old cessed buildings in island city awaiting redevelopment  • Only 3% have been redeveloped so far  • 500 applications are pending with the CRZ authority