Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has warned that any attempt to introduce an Urban Reform Scheme or excessive Floor Space Index (FSI) in Navi Mumbai before completion of an impact assessment report could face legal and street-level opposition.
Naik made the remarks during the launch of the ‘Angan Adoption Scheme’ under the ‘Sugandhi City Campaign’ in Navi Mumbai. He said the city’s impact assessment report must be completed before any decision is taken on the proposed development changes.
“Navi Mumbai’s impact assessment report must be completed before the URS scheme or excessive FSI can be implemented,” Naik said, according to the report. He added that if such an attempt was made, he was prepared to approach the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court to protect Navi Mumbai. He also warned that he could take the issue to the streets if necessary.
The comments place the proposed development framework in the context of the city’s capacity and future urban growth. The report does not provide details of the proposed Urban Reform Scheme, the scale of the FSI under consideration, or the agency responsible for preparing the impact assessment. It also does not specify the assessment’s expected completion date.
Naik’s comments came alongside remarks on the wider political environment in Maharashtra. He said ministers in the state government were under pressure over political activity involving religion and caste, as well as student protests. He also referred to drought-like conditions in the state and said the effects of such politics were now being felt by those in power.
Without naming any individual, Naik said that “fires” started by some people could no longer be extinguished. He also said that those who had brought a “ghost out of the bottle” should be responsible for controlling it. The remarks have triggered discussion in political circles over their possible target, particularly amid the continuing agitation led by Manoj Jarange-Patil over the demand for Maratha reservation.
The Navi Mumbai development warning is separate from Naik’s political comments but was delivered during the same public programme. Its significance lies in the minister’s stated position that changes to development intensity should follow an assessment of their impact on the city. The report does not record a response from the state government, the planning authority or any organisation supporting the proposed scheme.
Naik’s stated next steps are a possible legal challenge before the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court, along with street protests, if the URS scheme or excessive FSI is pursued before the impact assessment report is completed.
