THANE: Konkan graduates’ constituency MLA Niranjan Davkhare has asked the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to protect the rights of original residents of gaothans being brought under the cluster redevelopment scheme, and to carry out a detailed audit of all its properties. He raised the demands in a meeting with municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao on Wednesday.
Davkhare also took up two proposals for students in Rabodi: free practice exams for Class 10 and 12 students, and a 24-hour public library and night study centre.
Gaothans in the cluster scheme
Thane’s old gaothans have historical and cultural importance, Davkhare said. He sought a detailed review of the criteria used to include gaothans in the cluster scheme, whether enough land is available to rehabilitate original residents, and whether roads, water supply, sewerage, health and education facilities have been planned.
Gaothans that were included on the wrong criteria should be re-examined as per rules, he said, adding that further planning should be done only after talks with local residents and their representatives.
Audit of civic properties
Davkhare asked the TMC to make available ward-wise details of its movable and immovable properties, including ownership, possession, properties under dispute, their value as per the ready reckoner and their likely market value.
He suggested setting up an independent property management committee, with a nodal officer, to protect public properties, prevent encroachments and raise the civic body’s revenue. The TMC should also fix a deadline to collect the data and submit an action plan, he said.
Free practice exams in Rabodi
A proposal has been made to hold free practice exams for about 500 Class 10 and Class 12 students from Rabodi. Davkhare requested 10 classrooms in TMC school nos. 8, 11 and 14 for December 2026 and January 2027, and asked the civic body to check their availability and give the required permissions.
24-hour library and night study centre
For students who do not have enough space to study at home, he also proposed a 24-hour public library and night study centre on the rooftops of the same schools. He asked the civic body to first check the structural safety of the space and then plan for books, reference material, lighting, seating and safety arrangements.
Deputy mayor Krishna Patil, group leader Mukesh Mokashi and senior corporator Narayan Pawar attended the meeting. Davkhare said the departments concerned should act on the demands as per rules, for the planned development of the city, better management of public property and better facilities for students.