Written by Divyaja Kalyankar Members of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress on Thursday staged a protest against the construction of a new engineering building on a portion of the playground in front of the Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) in Pune. The playground land has been in use for over 80 years public resource for sports and community use and has reportedly shaped international-level athletes. The Deccan Education Society (DES), which has taken the decision for the construction of building, defended the move, stating that only the required margin space would be used without obstructing the ground’s use for sports and public activities. The protesters expressed concern that, although a small portion, approximately 15 per cent of the ground is being used now, it sets a precedent for future encroachment. “Today it's 15 per cent, tomorrow it will be 25 per cent. We will not allow this gradual takeover,” said Akshay Jain, president of the media wing of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress. “The issue is not just about a lack of transparency. We are protesting the decision to take over the land from the playground. DES has 50 to 60 acres of other land available, yet they are targeting this particular ground,” Jain said. Jain also accused DES of attempting to proceed without informing the public. “There were no invitations, hoardings, or official communications. Why is this being hidden from citizens?” he said, warning that the Youth Congress is prepared to take legal action. Responding to the protest, Ashok Palande, vice chairman of the governing board of DES, said the construction will adhere to national standards and that the margin of the ground may be used only if necessary. “We assure there will be no obstruction to sports or public use. This can be discussed in our regular 15-day meetings. It is not an immediate crisis,” he said. Deepak Kale, deputy secretary of DES, stated that the protesters are welcome to meet in the principal’s cabin to discuss their concerns. “We are ready to provide all project-related details and clarify any doubts,” Kale said Amit Kulkarni, member of the Board of Management, said the construction had received all required sanctions from the Pune Municipal Corporation. “If there is anything found to be illegal, we are willing to rectify it,” Kulkarni said. The police were deployed at the site under the supervision of Senior Inspector Girisha Nimbalkar to maintain law and order. No untoward incidents were reported. The protest highlights rising tensions between educational authorities and community stakeholders over the protection of open spaces in urban areas. (Divyaja Kalyankar is an intern with The Indian Express)
