MUMBAI, August 11: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has turned down the corporators' request to approach the state government to increase the floor space index (FSI) in gaothan and Koliwada areas.

Gaothan residents are the original inhabitants of Mumbai, and there are 189 gaothans all over Mumbai. Municipal commissioner Girish Gokhale turned down the demand on the ground that additional FSI is permitted only for slums under regulation 33(10) of the Development Control regulations of 1991 with the view of making the Slum Redevelopment Scheme financially viable. He added that gaothans and koliwadas cannot be treated on par with slums as they are occupied mainly by their owners, whereas slums are encroached upon by people other than the owners.

According to the corporation, the plots in gaothan areas are too small and access roads are narrow, hence it will be difficult to consume the additional FSI even if it is granted. The corporation also felt that there was no need to give additional FSI as gaothan residents were also interested in maintaining their residences' present character and avoid any change or development. Congress corporator Oliver Andrade felt that residential space in the gaothans was inadequate due to the expansion of families. He said just as in the case of slum dwellers, the BMC should grant the residents permission to reconstruct their homes.

Congress corporator R R Singh also felt that the corporation should pass the proposal taking into consideration the fact that gaothan residents are the original inhabitants of Mumbai. Other corporators also felt that gaothans and koliwadas need development as their houses are very closely situated to one another, and the only way to develop and repair the houses is to increase the FSI. They demanded that the corporation approach the state government to make changes in the DC rules, and also that repair laws for gaothans be modified.

Gokhale said in view of the problems faced by the owners of structures in gaothan areas, certain relaxations in the provisions of DC regulations have already been made in order to consider the cases of repair permissions. He said the heights of the existing attic or mezzanine floors can be raised upto eight feet.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.