Open spaces lost to encroachers

V N Patil,chairman of Pinnac Kanchanganga Society,says,“It is a PMC amenity space,encroached upon by the nursery owner. They dump truckloads of fertile soil and earthen pots there. Four-five people take plants from there on hand-carts to sell them. Although it is not a nuisance,the plot is being encroached upon.”

People of the area have pointed out at least two other instances.

S V Khatri,who stays close to the BSNL telephone exchange says an open plot near Anand Park is used by ragpickers to segregate garbage. “It is a sore sight all through the day when about a dozen ragpickers sit there and sort garbage. Earlier,they used to do it in the open but someone has put a green cloth fencing on three sides of the plot to cover it,” he says. According to residents,garbage segregation on the vacant ploy had begun almost a year ago.

The adjoining plot is used to park school buses. “About 10 to 15 buses are parked on this plot opposite Gaikwad petrol pump. We are not sure whether it is PMC land or a private plot. If it is PMC land,it should be utilized properly for common purpose and if not,the land should be vacant,” said Suresh Padmanabhan,a resident of Anand Park.