November 28, 2017

 

MUMBAI: A day after the BMC cleared an interim policy to allow private groups or individuals to continue maintaining open spaces under their care for the next 11 months, civic chief Ajoy Mehta clarified that all the plots will be first taken back before being handed over.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in January 2015 had ordered that all open plots under the care of private organizations be reclaimed and accordingly, 187 plots have been gradually taken over by BMC. The remaining ones too will be taken back despite the policy shift, Mehta said on Friday.

After the rollback was cleared on Thursday, Opposition leaders had raised questions over 29 plots which were not even served notices so far. These include the St Xaviers Ground in Parel, maintained by Mumbai District Football Association that is headed by Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray; Swatantra Veer Savarkar Udyan in Borivli; and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Kridangan in Kandivli, maintained by BJP MP Gopal Shetty.

Mehta said, “We will first take back all the open plots. Under the interim policy, if anyone wants to maintain an open space for 11 months, then he would need to apply before a committee. This would create competition. If the committee finds them eligible, the plot will be handed over, subject to certain conditions. No organization will be allowed to charge citizens for visiting the gardens.”

He said a committee will be formed under directions of an additional municipal commissioner to verify the antecedents of the applicants and will include a deputy municipal commissioner, assistant municipal commissioner and an official from the gardens department.

“Citizens want to feel involved in the city’s development and they are willing to put in funds to maintain open spaces. There are many organizations that have done a good job in maintaining open spaces across the city in the past as well,” he added.

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Source: realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com