Tweaked Caretaker Policy Under Fire
Fate of 17 plots hangs in balance ……..Sharad Vyas
New Norms Will Spell Doom For Open Spaces
Fate of 17 plots hangs in balance ……..Sharad Vyas
New Norms Will Spell Doom For Open Spaces
Mumbai: If the fear of citizen groups and environmentalists over revival of the controversial caretaker policy does come true, 17 more public open spaces face the threat of being converted into clubhouses and gymkhanas.
In its revised policy, the BMC gardens department has notified an inventory of 17 proposals that are awaiting an approval from authorities since the stay was imposed in December 2007. Most of these proposalsto take over open plots of 10,000 sqm to 15,000 sqmare backed either by political parties or commercial organisations, said officials. These 17 proposals seeking to take over an open plot have been pending with us since 2007. We have prepared an inventory and are looking at their status to ascertain at what stage of planning they are currently in, said a senior official of gardens department.
The BMC had recently tweaked the policy to add fresh clauses to make it more transparent and free of commercial and vested political interest. The earlier caretaker policyhanding over open spaces over 10,000 sqm to private partiesresulted in eight clubs and gymkhanas such as Matoshri Club in Andheri and Poinsur Gymkhana in Borivli. While the clubs over the years provided entry only for members, they commercially exploited 15% of the total plot area under the policy, an official said.
But the new changes are likely to solve some of the problems. These changes will now be added to the existing policy to be tabled before the civic chief and once he passes it, will be forwarded to the state with a request to vacate the stay, BMC officials said.
The two most important changes, officials said, were that preference would be given to citizens groups like advanced locality managements while allotting open spaces. Secondly, a sort of bidding process would be put in place to ensure only best proposals were selected while giving out chunks of open spaces. While the BMC feels the changes it has made will go a long way in making the system more transparent, citizen groups say the BMC should maintain the ground without the involvement of private players.
GROUND REALITY
– Open spaces in Mumbai: 952 acres, or 38,526,07 sq mt
– Recreation grounds/playgrounds (RG/PG): 641 acres, or 25,940,35 sq mt
– Parks and gardens: 311 acres, or 12,58,572 sq mt
* The earlier caretaker policy handing over open spaces over 10,000 sqm to private parties resulted in eight clubs and gymkhanas such as Matoshri Club in Andheri