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RALLYING against the new policy on allowing corporates and non-governmental bodies to adopt open spaces in the city for their upkeep, at least one residents’ association, the H-West Federation, has threatened to file a public interest litigation to oppose the leasing out of 1,500 recreation grounds or playgrounds. Other activists too plan to appeal to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking that the policy, passed in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday, be revoked.
Anandini Thakoor, chairperson of the H-West Federation, said they will hold a meeting with other activists and legal experts on January 27. “We cannot allow the last few open spaces to be given out to third parties, who will use it to reap commercial benefits. These plots belong to the residents of the city and by leasing them out, the BMC is taking away their access to these grounds. We will take inputs from other activists and, subsequently, file the PIL,” she said.
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Activists pointed out that the approval of the policy showed the BMC is not willing to maintain the city’s open spaces, an obligatory duty. Nayana Kathpalia, an activist and trustee of NAGAR, said the policy was open-ended and had several contradictions. “The policy is poorly drafted and does not have any specific norms. The state government should look into it closely. We want certain clarifications about the policy and will be writing to the BMC before planning anything,” she said.
Sharing her viewpoint, Vidya Vaidya, another activist, said the onus of maintaining open spaces should lie with the civic body. “The policy does not mention any specific guidelines for gardens, playgrounds and parks. The infrastructure for maintaining these plots is already present, yet the BMC wants to lease them out. The decision only replicates the system. If the plots are leased out, what would the gardens department do?” she said.
Former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said, “No one seems to have a rational explanation behind the policy. The corporators have let the city down and the approval of the policy is a candid acceptance of the fact that the BMC cannot look after the grounds. What is so great about a policy which gives away people’s rights?” He added that he will try to convince the municipal commissioner and then send a written representation to the chief minister.
Meanwhile, corporators from MNS, NCP and Congress protested in front of the municipal commissioner’s office on Thursday. Samajwadi Party corporator Ashraf Azmi sent a written representation to the chief minister. MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande said, “If someone tries forcibly to take the city’s open spaces, we will beat them up.”
arita.sarkar@expressindia.com
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