Beautification of Race Course land in Mumbai

Shelar demands probe to ascertain if MVA government was planning give vacant plot to builders

A central park has been proposed on the 120-acre land on Mahalaxmi Race Course. (File Photo)

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar Thursday urged Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde to order a probe to find out if there was any “ploy” to hand over the vacant plot adjoining the Coastal Road to builders during the tenure of the MVA government-led Uddhav Thackeray.

The vacant plot between the Race Course and the Coastal Road is a 300-acre open space, which the state government has decided to beautify and recreate for Mumbaikars instead of coming up with any commercial construction on it.

A central park has been proposed on the 120-acre land on Mahalaxmi Race Course. Also, on the 180-acre of reclaimed land, trees will be planted, both for beautification and to help the environment.

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While seeking permission for the Coastal Road project, the Union Environment Ministry had asked the state government to give a written guarantee that the reclaimed land will not be used for any commercial activity nor will there be any kind of construction on this 180-acre reclaimed land,

Shelar said, “At that time, Uddhav Thackeray’s government was in power in the state while his son Aaditya Thackeray was the environment minister. Why did they not submit a written guarantee to the central environment department at that time?”

He added, “Even CAG had drawn attention and criticized the former government for the same. Why did the then environment minister not submit an affidavit despite the central ministry asking for it? Was there any vested interest behind it? Was there a conspiracy to hand it over to builders?… CM must order an investigate into the matter.”

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