Mumbai: Koliwadas and Gaothans push for separate development regulations

A communityled draft of Development Control and Promotion Regulations DCPR for Mumbais Koliwadas and Gaothans was submitted to Mayor Ritu Tawde on Friday with representatives of several Koliwadas and Gaothans seeking separate development rules for the citys indigenous communitiesThe Koliwada Gaonthan Seva Samiti also raised three longpending demands demarcation of Koliwadas and Gaothans in Mumbai City and the suburbs inclusion of expanded Koliwada areas in the Development Plan DP and Coastal Zone Management Plan CZMP and a separate DCPRUnified DCPR UDCPR framework for these settlementsKoliwada and Gaothan representatives during a meeting with Mayor Ritu Tawde at her office on Friday where a communityled draft DCPR was submitted PicsBy Special ArrangementThe meeting was attended by representatives of Koliwadas and Gaothans public representatives and government officialsHow the draft was preparedAccording to Samiti chairperson Ujwala Patil earlier proposals including slum redevelopmentbased policies did not address the communityrsquos concerns More than six years ago a bottomup exercise was started to frame development regulations in consultation with residentsUrban planning expert Pankaj Joshi Principal Director Urban Centre said the process involved 26 consultation meetings with representatives of Koliwadas and Gaothans across MumbaildquoAfter 26 consultation meetings with local representatives of Mumbairsquos various Koliwadas and Gaothans we have finally come up with a draft DCPR for the development rights of this indigenous community This is a first for the cityrsquos original inhabitantsrdquo said JoshiHe said women formed the majority of participants in the consultation process citing their role in the communityrsquos livelihoodsWhat the draft proposesgtgt Redevelopment under Koliwada Gaothan areas shall be strictly under enabling provisions of DCR 3316 d onlygtgt Development proposals be approved only after obtaining 70 per cent consent from village eldergavki described as original inhabitants and their legal heirsgtgt KoliwadaGaothan areas be given different development options depending on their requirementsA man walks through a narrow alley at Worli Koliwada PicistockFour proposed development models1 Heritageminimal developmentRetain existing character with limited new construction and the provision of Heritage Transferable Development RightsTDR2 Incremental developmentAllow additions including extra floors3 Limited redevelopmentPermit redevelopment but with urban form guidelines4 Redevelopment with expansionAllow redevelopment along with expansion of the existing gaothanvillage areaWhat the Samiti wants nextgtgt A moratorium on demolition action in Koliwadas and Gaothans until the proposed regulations are framedgtgt Demarcation of expanded Koliwada areasgtgt Inclusion of these areas in the DP and CZMPgtgt A separate regulatory framework for their developmentgtgt A nodal mechanism to coordinate between civic and state departmentsThe draft has been submitted through the Mayorrsquos office Civic and state government officials are expected to examine it before any formal proposal is consideredAccording to the Samiti once it submits another formal letter Tawde said she would organise a joint meeting under the chairmanship of the Guardian Ministers of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburbs with government and civic officials concernedThe Samiti said the Mayor also proposed appointing a nodal officer or agency with the consent of the Guardian Ministers to coordinate the processKoli leaders speakUjwala Patil Chairperson Koliwada Gaonthan Seva SamitildquoKolis have been struggling for our rights for decades now Years of dissatisfaction paired with the recent hit to our earnings and livelihoods have made the community very troubled lately Many are reaching their tipping point and are ready to protest on a large scale Itrsquos important for the government to solve the concerns soon These are indigenous people who arenrsquot even permitted selfdevelopment on their own landrdquoChintamani Nivte Municipal Councillor Ward H WestldquoI had formally raised the issue in the sabhagrah and in a letter to the Mayor prior as well I finally arranged this meeting with all the stakeholders so that issues of Mumbairsquos Koliwadas could get a common platform and action could be taken in coordinationrdquo