Mayor ups the ante against racecourse

Addressing a press conference Wednesday,Prabhu said eviction notices would be served on RWITC for the part of land belonging to BMC.

“We will issue an eviction notice to Turf Club after the expiry of the lease and do not plan to change our stand,” he said.

BMC owns 30 per cent of the 225 acres leased to the club,the balance belongs to the state government.

Rahul Shewale,standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena corporator said,“Part of the racecourse goes through BMC land. Some restaurants,jogging track and helipad are also on BMC land. Without BMC land,the racecourse will be more or less useless to Turf Club.”

While civic officials claimed renewal of lease would be decided after considering legalities,corporators have rejected the proposal in various committees of BMC.

“It does not matter whether the municipal commissioner approves the lease or not,all corporators,including improvement committee members,will reject the proposal,” said Shewale.

“BMC cannot go by majority of the general body but has to base its decision on strong legal grounds. Otherwise,Turf Club can knock at court doors and obtain a stay. Also,one must think what is the signal BMC is giving to the city as it is closing everything that seems elite,” said a senior civic official.

Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte had last week said,“We cannot take a decision on this without views of the state government which owns a larger portion (of the racecourse).”

The urban development department of the state government is inclined to extend the lease. “With more than two-third of the land with the state,our decision will prevail,” said a senior state government functionary.

RWITC has been using Mahalaxmi Racecourse for the past 99 years and pays an annual rent of Rs 60 lakh for holding derbys for six months in a year. In 2010,BMC issued a notice to RWITC accusing it of sub-letting part of the land without permission. Despite legal tussles,the corporation recently renewed licence of Royal Western India Turf Club to serve food and drinks.

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