BMC to take custody of Priyadarshini Park soon

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will take custody of Nepean Sea Road’s Priyadarshini Park, and sent a notice on December 23 to the Malabar Hill Citizens’ Forum, which is presently in-charge of maintenance of the garden. According to the BMC, the association has breached the terms of its contract of 1985, and with the civic body, for possession and care taking of the plot. The Priyadarshini Park and sports complex is part of the 216 BMC owned open spaces which were given out by the civic body on adoption or care taking basis to private parties, of which 75 plots are yet to be taken back by BMC.

As per the notice served by the gardens’ department of the civic body, Malabar Hill Citizens’ Forum has made several illegal alterations and additions to the open space spread over 64,000 square metres of BMC-owned land. Sources in the civic body said the caretakers had illegally constructed a shed at the entrance of the garden, without the BMC’s permissions. This is being used as office space for the caretakers. According to the BMC, the citizens’ forum has also illegally constructed a running track, a jogging park, a tennis court and a gymnasium on the garden premises.

A civic official of the civic garden’s department said, “There are several shops within the garden which sell food and drinks. The garden is used for several commercial purposes such as kite festivals and sports tournaments.     

Despite several attempts to contact Shivaji Rao, who is associated with the Malabar Hill Citizens’ Forum, he did not respond to phone calls from The Asian Age.