Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, November 24: A small garden inside a MHADA residential colony at the foot of the Sanjay Gandhi Borivli National Park is at the centre of a controversy with two politicians throwing their weights behind two housing societies laying claim to the same plot.
Matters came to a head today when Independent MLC 64-year-old Arun Mehta sat on a day-long fast outside the office of BJP MLA Hemendra Mehta on Shimpoli Road at Borivli demanding that he no longer interfere in the former8217;s efforts to pave and beautify the garden.
Funds were sanctioned and MHADA approved the plans. While the levelling and paving of the ground was allowed, the Devipada residents, backed by Hemendra Mehta have now opposed the formation of a cultural centre a concrete platform with a shed on the land. They claimed it was too close to a temple on the premises. Called the Jagrut Gaondevi mandir, the temple itself comprises a tin shed and is allegedly manned by the neighbouring Devipada residents who have banded themselves under the Jagrut Devsthann Mitra Mandal.
8220;It is just another ploy for encroachment,8221; says Arun Mehta. The garden has allegedly been rampaged and around four to five coconut trees planted through his funds have been uprooted. Some of the tiles used to pave the ground have been broken and work on the construction of the cultural centre was stalled till yesterday.Today, Deputy Commissioner of Police M H Gavit assured Mehta of police bandobast for allowing the construction to take place. On his assurance, Mehta withdrew his fast.
While Hemendra Mehta was not available for comment, Deepak Sonpal, BJP ward president of the area countered that the MLA was only voicing the people8217;s demands in seeking the shift of the cultural centre. 8220;We are not against the centre, but only ask that it be shifted so that the religious festivities held under the aegis of the temple is not hindered,8221; he said.
There is however very little place to shift the centre. The corner to which Sonpal would want the centre to shift, has been earmarked for children with seesaws and swings. Also, high-tension wires of the adjoining electric house of the Tatas makes it more difficult to build the centre.
8220;If it is MHADA8217;s land and we are the residents, then the land should rightfully be maintained by us,8221; says a resident of the society, 8220;or else let the entire thing be handed over to theDevipada residents.8221;
In a suburb breathless for space, the quarrel over the land seems to have got an unfortunate political colouring. With neither politicians willing to seek a compromise, MHADA has now arranged for a meeting to find a way out.
