‘Take back plots given under junked policy’

As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gets set to approve the new recreational ground–playground (RGPG) policy on Monday, citizen activists have demanded that it should also take over the city’s open plots that had been given to politicians under the previous caretaker policy.

In its new RGPG policy, the BMC scrapped the caretaker policy, which was controversial due to misuse of open spaces. The civic body, henceforth, will allot open spaces only on the adoption basis, which does not allow construction on the plot.

However, while doing so the BMC has decided not to interfere with the plots that have already been given on a caretaker basis to various trusts controlled by political parties.

Citizen groups have said that the new policy would be pointless if the civic body does not take control of these plots.

One of the major grievances of the citizens with the earlier caretaker policy was that the open plots given away to trusts controlled by political parties were used for constructing clubs and restaurants, but the general public was denied entry to them.

Harish Pandey of the New Link Road Residents Forum (NLRRF), Dahisar, said, “What’s the use of new policy if does not cover all open spaces in the city The BMC should take over all plots and allot them to the NGOs, citizen groups and corporates for maintenance instead of politicians.”

The BMC has also been apathetic in its approach in taking over other vacant plots in the city, he added. “We have written a letter to the ward office asking it to take possession of a vacant plot at Dahisar that is being misused by anti-social elements. But despite several reminders, it has turned a deaf ear to it.”

During the Sena-BJP rule in the state between 1995 to 1999, several open plots under the caretaker policy were allotted to the trusts affiliated to politicians like Borivali’s Kamla Vihar Sports Complex, Mandapeshwar Club, Prabodhankar Thackeray Complex, MIG Club, Bandra and Matoshree Club, Jogeshwari, Poisar Gymkhana and Dahisar Sports Foundation.

Open space activist Nikhil Desai from Matunga said these plots should be taken over by the BMC. “Since the BMC has decided to scrap the caretaker policy, the plots given earlier under this policy should also be taken back and given on adoption basis. This will ensure their better use by people.”

The new policy will be tabled before the civic improvements committee for approval on Monday. Improvements committee chairman Prakash Gangadhare said the committee is ready to discuss the issue of caretaker policy if anyone raises it in the meeting. But he insisted that the policy needs to be passed. “There are lot of open plots that the BMC cannot maintain due to lack of funds and manpower. If left unused, there is a possibility of these plots getting encroached. Hence, we are inviting housing societies, residents groups, NGOs and sports organisations to adopt these plots for maintenance,” said Mr Gangadhare.