Navi Mumbai: Forest minister Ganesh Naik said he would continue opposing the Urban Development Department’s Urban Renewal Scheme, or cluster development, in Navi Mumbai until an impact assessment report was prepared.Naik said large-scale redevelopment would increase the population and place additional pressure on existing civic infrastructure and public amenities.A controlled population would help ensure better services, he said.Speaking after Navi Mumbai received India’s cleanest city award, Naik said the clean-city tag would not last if indiscriminate cluster development was allowed. Higher Floor Space Index without corresponding groundwork would severely strain infrastructure that will demolish the concept of the clean city initiative, he added.Naik opposed extending the scheme to buildings that neither were dangerously dilapidated nor met the 30-year age criterion, citing parts of Simplex Colony in Ghansoli. He said indiscriminate approvals would cause population over-density, worsen traffic on arterial roads and internal connectivity and damage Navi Mumbai’s planned layout.He said projects should not proceed without proper impact assessment reports and warned of legal action if necessary. Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) general body passed a resolution by 60 votes to 31 opposing cluster redevelopment approvals without a citywide carrying capacity study and authorised legal action if Maharashtra govt proceeds with pending proposals.The resolution directs the civic administration to communicate NMMC’s objections to state govt and approach Bombay High Court if projects under Urban Renewal Scheme (URS) are cleared before the study assesses pressure on infrastructure and the environment. The decision followed an Oct 15, 2026, directive from Maharashtra govt’s Urban Development Department asking NMMC to process notified cluster redevelopment proposals pending before the high-powered committee.NMMC had earlier resolved to keep such proposals on hold. Leader of the House Sagar Naik said additional construction to facilitate higher Floor Space Index and financial benefits could jeopardise Navi Mumbai’s planned development without an assessment of civic infrastructure. He said Ghansoli was already facing water supply constraints and questioned the need for a special URS scheme when redevelopment was possible under regular development control regulations through land amalgamation.NMMC officials clarified that redevelopment of C-1 category dangerous and dilapidated buildings should continue under regular regulations, allowing residents to relocate. Naik said such buildings should not be used to justify clearing all cluster proposals without assessing carrying capacity.Corporator Suraj Patil sought a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution and an interim stay on approvals for Cluster 1 and 2 and other pending proposals. He also asked the municipal commissioner to obtain legal advice, compile documents and appoint advocates.
