Attend to development of community grounds: Guardian minister Lodha to BMC

Speaking during a meeting convened between BMC officials and the residents, the suburban guardian minister said, “We have been inspecting the residents’ objections to the proposal. People have told me, and I propose that the BMC must maintain recreational and play grounds. Secondly, a watchdog committee comprising five to six persons, which includes at least one woman, must ensure proper maintenance of gardens across the city.”

“Much of the cost is incurred in the procurement of equipment as well as the maintenance of courts and experts. Therefore, people using these facilities could be charged a small entry fee,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Gardens) Kishore Gandhi stated that the policy only concerns recreational and play grounds.

“We have several big grounds, but no proper equipment for the people. To make these provisions available, we need an available ground as well as an organisation with expertise, who can provide these facilities. The BMC’s subject expertise does not lie in sports. Therefore, our proposal seeks to rope in experts such as sports associations, and involve the CSR to generate adequate funds. We have developed a marking scheme for organisations, and also collecting security deposits from them,” said Gandhi.

Data procured from the BMC, meanwhile, shows that the megapolis is home to 1,109 open spaces — 359 playgrounds, 404 recreational grounds, and 346 gardens.

The BMC’s proposal aims towards transferring ownership of the civic body’s open spaces to private caretakers under a caretaker policy. The policy has drawn flak from residents as well as activists, with many writing to the administration, opposing the same.

While residents and NGOs opposed the civic proposal on Friday, several Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers, including Ashraf Azmi and Sheetal Mhatre, raised hue and cried over the absence of Iqbal Singh Chahal, municipal commissioner and state appointed administrator, and demanded a decision over the fate of the open spaces, which have already been handed over to private parties.

Responding to the squabble that ensued, Lodha said, “Congress party members disrupted the meeting for political gains. The meeting, however, has been called to listen to the concerns of the people. Even though the commissioner is absent, several civic officials are present.”

For the record, Friday’s discussion was the second meeting of its kind that the guardian minister and civic officials organised to address the issue, with the first one held in September this year.