The Hindu : National : Sena protests repeal of Land Ceiling Act

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Sena protests repeal of Land Ceiling Act

Special Correspondent

Uddhav Thackeray criticises Congress-NCP government

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

SHOW OF PROTEST: Shiv Sena supporters at a rally in Mumbai on Thursday to protest against the repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling Act.

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday criticised the ruling Congress-NCP government for repealing the Urban Land Ceiling (Regulation) Act (ULCRA) and called on Shiv Sainiks not to allow the city to be hijacked by builders.

He said that if the poor did not get their due, the Sainiks would not allow a single brick to be laid for the proposed construction of high-rise apartments in the city. If slum dwellers were denied water at the expense of these high-rises, then water pipes would be broken, he warned.

Mr. Thackeray led a morcha from the Sena Bhavan to the Collector’s office in Bandra to protest the repealing of the ULCRA. Addressing the gathering at Bandra, Mr. Thackeray said the ruling parties had no real concern for Mumbai.

The repealing of ULCRA would open the floodgates for builders and high-rise apartments. “Where will all the amenities come for these new buildings,” he asked.

On the one hand, the government was making way for builders and on the other, it had scrapped the “zhunka bhakar” stalls which used to sell cheap food.

Dharavi plan

He said slum dwellers would be affected by the Dharavi re-development plan and even the airport expansion plan would displace poor people. He said Mumbai need not beg the Centre for funds for re-development. At least 25 per cent of the taxes Mumbaikars paid must be returned to the city for re-development, he said.

Scrapping the ULCRA was a condition for obtaining Central funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. Mr. Thackeray said for a sum of Rs. 2,000 crore, there was no need to scrap the Act.

He issued a warning to the ruling government saying that if policies such as these continued, the Sena would ensure its defeat.

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