Mumbai to get salt pan lands for displaced

The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on Mumbai's salt pan land is likely to recommend that a sizeable portion of the land should be handed over to the state government for rehabilitating those who will be displaced by various infrastructure projects of Mumbai, said Sharad Pawar, Union agricultural minister, who heads the EGoM of central government on the salt-pan lands of Mumbai.

Pawar was replying to a question on his comments last week on the release of the Mumbai Port Trust land for the city's development. Addressing party workers, Pawar opposed the state government's move on the release of Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) land for city's development.

Reiterating his statement, Pawar said, "The city was known for its mills, port, international airport and engineering industry. The mills and engineering industry have moved out of the city, international airport has also lost its numero uno status with a number of international airports coming up in country and we must protect remaining last symbols of city which put the city on the international map. More importantly it still provides jobs to lakhs of people."

That's why I am of the opinion that the state government should ask for salt-pan land for the development of the city instead of asking the MPT land for development of the city.

The issue of around 2,200 hectares of salt land opening up for development has became contentious one. Besides, legal issues involving the Centre that the land and lessees of the land on the ownership and possession of the land, environmentalist are opposing any development on salt-pan land.

They argue that these are the last defence of the city from the tidal waves that create deluge-like situation. If the land is utilised for development we can have 26ô7 like situation every monsoon with almost every heavy downpour.

However, Pawar said, "State government's demand to reduce activity at MPT and make all the vacant land available for city's infrastructure need will prove suicidal for industry in the state, which uses the port extensively."

The port, which is one of those handling oil and other chemical imports and exports, handling of steel and handling of other goods in country, simply doesn't make any economic sense, he observed.