Resolve Issues Raised by Public Representatives Before Next Meeting – Guardian Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar

Mumbai Suburban District Planning Committee Meeting

Mumbai : Guardian Minister for Mumbai Suburban District and Minister for Cultural Affairs and Information Technology, Adv. Ashish Shelar, emphasized that all executive departments must ensure 100% utilization of allocated funds and address the concerns raised by public representatives in the District Planning Committee meetings. He stated that the committee plays a crucial role in addressing public welfare issues and that executing agencies bear the responsibility of effectively using government funds for the benefit of the people.

During the District Planning Committee meeting held at Chetana College, Bandra, Adv. Shelar issued these directives. Present at the meeting were Members of Parliament Varsha Gaikwad and Ravindra Waikar, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, District Collector Rajendra Kshirsagar, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, SRA CEO Mahendra Kalyankar, along with MLAs, public representatives, and invited members from the Mumbai Suburban district.

Shelar stressed the need to ensure full utilization of funds received under tribal sub-plans and mentioned that the state has instructed the enumeration of the tribal population. Proper planning will enable targeted expenditure, including providing civic amenities to tribal hamlets and settlements. He called upon officials from the police, public works, and municipal departments to take the representatives’ concerns seriously and act accordingly.

He also announced a policy decision to provide Rs. 20,000 monthly rent assistance to residents of old, dilapidated, and dangerous buildings in the district to facilitate their redevelopment.

Referring to landslide-prone areas, Shelar said that the installation of mesh nets (mass nets) has been planned. In places with walls under 9 meters in height, MHADA will handle the installation, while the Public Works Department will take charge where walls exceed 9 meters. He urged departments to provide satisfactory answers and solutions to the questions raised during the meeting and to ensure timely and factual compliance reports are submitted and shared with committee members. He also instructed departments to respond swiftly to the concerns raised by members.

The meeting approved an expenditure of ₹1,088 crore under the District Planning Committee. Approval was also granted for the Force One training center in Kalina. MLA Pravin Darekar moved a resolution stating that after the Sanjay Gandhi National Park was declared a forest area, around 80,000 residents in the newly declared Ketki Pada and surrounding areas are still deprived of basic amenities. To facilitate their in-situ rehabilitation, the area should be excluded from the protected forest zone. The resolution was unanimously passed.

Several important issues were raised by members, including the rising drug trade, women’s safety, bridges, footpaths, road works, drainage cleaning, development in tribal areas, and providing basic facilities to residents living on forest land.