Gopal Shetty to surrender plots

In the ongoing recreational ground-playground (RGPG) policy saga, BJP MP Gopal Shetty has sprang a surprise by announcing that he would be handing over the Poinsur Gymkhana and Veer Savarkar Udyan plots, which were allotted to him under the previous adoption policy, to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with effect from February 1. He has also vowed to surrender the Kamla Vihar Sports Complex plot, which was given permanently under the caretaker policy.

“The Poinsur Gymkhana has decided to surrender all grounds and gardens to the civic body after getting a refund for the expenses incurred by its members on them till date. I have no problem in handing over the Kamla Vihar plot too,” said Mr Shetty on Monday.

The BJP MP’s move of surrendering the plots comes in the backdrop of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis asking the BMC to take over all 216 plots that have been given under the adoption policy. It is also seen as a clever ploy to heap pressure on Shiv Sena leaders, who also have been allotted prime plots.

According to him, open plots of Poinsur Gymkhana (10 acres) and Veer Savarkar Udyan (seven acres) at Borivali were developed by spending crores of rupees. The gymkhana is charging citizens for its facilities at very nominal rates. It is also maintaining other grounds and gardens like Chhadtrapit Shivaji Maharaj Kridangan, Sai Baba Garden, Sardar Patel Udyan, Jhansi Ki Rani Udyan, Pula Deshpande Udyan, Chikuwadi ground and Discovery garden at its own cost.

Mr Shetty spoke out against ‘red tapism’ in the civic body while defending his decision to surrender the plots. “Permission has not been granted to build a club house at the gymkhana for last several years. In addition to this, the policy makers have deferred the decision on the adoption policy,” he said.

However, according to political sources, Mr Shetty had no option left after the CM directed the BMC to take back open plots given to NGOs. The move is also aimed at embarrassing the Shiv Sena, which is facing the wrath of people over the RGPG policy issue.

City Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam has demanded that the BMC should scrap the new RGPG policy. “The policy is an absolute eye-wash. It is a ploy to take over 1,000 of open plots and use them commercially. And now after the adverse reaction, the Sena and BJP are trying to blame each other to save their skin. There is no need to review the policy, just scrap it,” he told reporters.