BMC begins survey of Lower Parel land five months after SC rejects Century Textiles claim

Mumbai: Five months after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the BMC — rejecting Century Textiles and Industries Ltd’s petition to claim ownership — a team from the civic body’s G-South ward began a table survey of the six-acre land parcel in Lower Parel.A table survey, akin to a police panchnama, is conducted to record the current ground reality of any plot, capturing details such as the number of structures, encroachments, obstructions, and even tree cover, a civic official explained. “This entire process should take our staff over a month,” said the official.According to earlier BMC records, the plot houses around 450 tenants, though officials believe this number might have increased.

However, the exact number of occupants who are kin of mill workers is still being ascertained. The land was originally leased to Century Spinning and Manufacturing Ltd (now Century Textiles and Industries Ltd) in 1927 for 28 years to provide housing for workers from lower-income groups.While a development plan for the land is yet to be finalised, officials said rehabilitation of eligible kin of the original mill workers is under consideration.

The land is currently valued at an estimated Rs 800 creo to Rs 1,000 crore.Following the Supreme Court verdict, BMC documents show that a letter was issued to the Mumbai city collector requesting the deletion of Century Textiles and Industries Ltd as lessee from the property card of plot CS No. 1546 in the Lower Parel division.A separate letter was also sent to Century Textiles and Industries Ltd, asking it to hand over vacant and peaceful possession of the land.In response, Aditya Birla Real Estate Ltd submitted a letter dated March 10 stating that it was handing over possession of the land, along with existing structures and occupants, with immediate effect.BMC officials said they are currently seeking legal opinion on the steps to be taken to take possession of the land. Key questions include whether all existing occupants must be re-accommodated on the same plot, as previously stipulated, and whether the civic body can alter the designated use of the land — originally intended for housing poorer-class workers — once possession is secured.