Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik Calls Out Land Mismanagement in Mira Bhayandar

Mira Bhayandar: Pratap Sarnaik, a legislator from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), has raised serious allegations against the town planning department (TPD) of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC). In a letter to the municipal commissioner, Sarnaik claims that the TPD has been sanctioning building proposals without completing the necessary acquisition of large parcels of reserved land from private developers. This alleged oversight has reportedly deprived citizens of essential amenities and resulted in significant financial losses for the municipal treasury. Sarnaik's letter highlights that many of the sanctioned layouts, which were proposed under the accommodation reservation (AR) policy, are situated on land designated for public amenities such as gardens, housing for the displaced, playgrounds, and schools. He expressed shock upon discovering that out of 15 proposals reviewed, most were approved without the completion of the mandated acquisition process. Sarnaik described this situation as not only unjust to the citizens but also a serious offense, issuing a 15-day ultimatum for the completion of the acquisition process. If the TPD fails to comply, Sarnaik has threatened to stage a protest by locking down the TPD office on August 16. While some agreements have been made regarding land transfers, the MBMC has not fully completed the legal processes or taken physical possession of the land. According to the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), a portion of land must be surrendered for public amenities, with 386 parcels currently reserved for various uses in the twin-city.