As per sources in the civic body, in a meeting was held between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, civic officials and elected representatives, where it was decided that a new policy of open space management will be drafted and readied by month end.
Earlier in January 2016, BMC had cleared a proposal to allow private parties to maintain a public park or ground for a maximum period of 30 years.
Listen to this articleYour browser does not support the audio element.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to draft its new policy for open spaces, which will include scrapping the old policy of appointing ‘caretakers’ which will put the onus of maintaining parks and grounds on private parties for a period of up to 30 years.
As per sources in the civic body, in a meeting was held between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, civic officials and elected representatives, where it was decided that a new policy of open space management will be drafted and readied by month end.
You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
Sign up and keep reading more stories that matter to you.
Earlier in January 2016, BMC had cleared a proposal to allow private parties to maintain a public park or ground for a maximum period of 30 years. However, later that year, this proposal was stayed by former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, because social activists criticised the move alleging that it would provide added advantage to political bigwigs. When the proposal faced criticism from several sections of society, an initiative to formulate a new policy was floated in 2016. However, there has been no action on it so far.
Civic officials have said that in the upcoming policy, a clause will be included to allow parties to maintain a space for a period of 11 months only. “We may allow private parties to maintain a ground for 11 months and adopt a garden for five years. These timelines may be extended on certain conditions,” the official said.
Meanwhile, a group of activists have written to the CM urging him to not hand over civic plots to private parties. “About eight years ago a policy was passed to give away our gardens and open spaces to private parties in what was called adoption and caretaker policy. We, the citizens of Mumbai ran a campaign in which we called out our representatives for hijacking our policies,” the open letter said.
“It is easier for the state to acquire citizen’s land, but it is not possible for citizens to get back their land in such cases. Even now plots given away under the caretaker policy have been encroached upon,” the letter said.
“Therefore, we demand that maintenance and care of public open spaces be made mandatory for the corporation, instead of making it an optional duty. It is crucial to do this so that such a policy is not brought back anytime in future,” the letter further said.
Story continues below this ad
The letter has been signed by activists Anil Galgali, Nayana Kathpalia, Sucheta Dalal, Debasish Basu, Dolphy D’Souza, Ashank Desai, Bhagwanji Raiyani, Sharad Saraf, Shailesh Gandhi and Ranga Rao.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
