Mumbai: Forest Minister and BJP leader Ganesh Naik urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to reconsider the inclusion of 14 villages from Kalyan Rural in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), as promised by former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
In his letter, Naik highlighted that this addition would impose a financial burden of Rs 6,500 crore on the NMMC, citing concerns over infrastructure expenses and previous exclusions of these villages from the municipal limits.
Naik underscored that the villages had been part of NMMC before, and their reintegration would require substantial funds for development, including removing illegal constructions and building a connecting tunnel to Navi Mumbai. Emphasizing his role as a local resident first, he questioned the need for NMMC to shoulder this financial load and expressed that discussions on the matter seemed unwarranted.
The Power Shift Tale Of 14 Villages
The 14 villages consisting of Nighu, Mokashi Pada, Navali, Bhandarli, Pimpri Gaon, Gotheghar, Bambarli, Uttarshiv, Nagaon, Narivali, Vaklan, Bali, and Dahisar Mori, placed near the border of Kalyan-Thane, were earlier a part of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) from 1992 until 2000. The NMMC undertook numerous infrastructural projects in the areas.
However, after locals opposed the tax increase and requested to be detached from NMMC's management, the 14 villages were transferred to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) who admined them for 23 years. After lacking sufficient developmental benefits, residents called for their reintegration into the NMMC administration.
The make-shift Maharashtra government in 2022 accepted the request and reinstated the inclusion of the 14 villages in NMMC. However, NMMC is now opposing the decision since it would result in an extra expenditure of Rs 6,500 crore for establishing infrastructure and connectivity, which NMMC is not willing to cover on the account of Navi Mumbai resident's tax money, according to the recent letter penned by Forest minister Ganesh Naik.
Political Reactions
Ganesh Naik's comments drew attention within the ruling coalition, with Industries Minister Uday Samant suggesting a meeting to resolve any misunderstandings with Naik. Meanwhile, opposition party Congress seized the moment to critique the ruling alliance's cohesiveness, with leader Vijay Wedattiwar highlighting discrepancies in government decisions, suggesting discord between coalition partners, and questioning Eknath Shinde's status within the alliance amidst evident rivalry for political influence in Thane. People are speculating internal political tension over power between Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
