Norm relaxed for redvpt near jails : dna

Mumbai

Developers’ body hails decision, babus say prisons should have been moved out of city before this move

Relaxing the development rules around the jail and prisons premises. The Maharashtra government has decided to amend the development control rules (DCR) in order to reduce the buffer zone distance between a jail and a construction site from 182 metres to 150 metres.

Owing to this buffer zone rule, many redevelopment projects were stuck. Now, many of these stuck projects, particularly in South Bombay, are likely to resume work. Also, many residential projects around the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai are stuck due to distance restriction norms. Many of these projects too will benefit from the government decision to relax the buffer zone norm.

The 182-metre buffer zone cap was previously applicable to all the jails in the state. Now, it has been brought down to 150 metres near the Central Jail. For district jails, the buffer zone distance has been reduced to 100 metres and 50 metres for open prisons.

Ranjeet Patil, state minister for home (urban), told dna that the government has decided to reduce the distance for the development of areas around jails. “Earlier, jails and prisons were on the outskirts of the city. Now, these places are at the heart of the city. Besides, value of land in the city has increased manifold. Therefore, inhabitants of areas around jails cannot afford to buy apartments at different locations. Their families have also expanded over the years. So, they have no option other than redevelopment. This is the reason why the government decided to reduce the buffer zone around jails,” Patil explained.

People cannot be pushed to the outskirts of the city, he said, adding: “We can restrict development. Therefore, the distance restriction was relaxed. Moreover, we are also seriously considering to shift jails and prisons to the periphery of cities. We want to unlock the huge chunk of land occupied by jails for construction of houses and other commercial establishments.”

Chairman of Nardeco, an umbrella body of developers, Sunil Mantri welcomed the government move. “The government should change or amend rules keeping in mind the current requirement. We cannot apply the colonial rules for today’s development. We are really happy that the government has reduced the buffer zone around jails which will pave the way for redevelopment of old and crumbling buildings near jail premises,” Mantri said.

Senior officials said that the government was hurriedly taking decisions. “The government should first shift the jails out of city limits and then permit redevelopment of the old buildings in jail areas. Security of jail inmates is a serious issue which cannot be ignored,” said a senior official of the home department.