Mumbai: After challenges in securing 6,000 square meters of reclaimed land for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), the BMC has begun demarcating boundaries around the reclaimed land. The land, originally owned by the Mumbai City District Collector, was leased to Breach Candy Hospital (BCH) and Breach Candy Club (BCC) before being submerged.
However, activist Zoru Bhathena has raised objections, claiming that the land remains under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ-I), a No Development Zone (NDZ), making it unsuitable for development.
The allocation follows a letter from the Mumbai Collector, confirming the BCH’s claim over the reclaimed land next to its premises. The hospital asserts that the land, previously situated under the high tide line, rightfully belongs to them. However, the civic body has clarified that the BCC, which shares boundaries with the area, has not made any claim over the other 3,000 sq m.
The civic official claimed that they were unaware that the plot was part of the BCH when it was reclaimed, which is why it was initially used for stacking materials and casting yards. “It was only after we were informed by the collector last year that we decided to take action. Currently, we are constructing a boundary wall around the hospital’s 2,900 sq m to clearly demarcate the land,” he added.
Sources from the hospital confirmed that the land is listed on their property card as part of the area originally leased to them. Last year, the hospital approached the collector regarding this reclaimed portion.
Environmental activist Zoru Bhathena has written a letter to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, Mumbai city district collector, Municipal commissioner and the chief engineer coastal road project strongly objecting to the BMC’s agreeing to hand over the land to any private parties.
“No construction is allowed on such a plot. Even the construction of a boundary wall requires prior approval from the CRZ authorities,” said Bhathena. “Therefore, we urge the BMC to ensure that all construction activities, including the boundary wall and any changes to the land level, are stopped immediately. The plot should be restored for public open space use as intended,” he added.
