Mumbai mayor in trouble over park issue
November 11, 2006
Mayor of Mumbai, Datta Dalvi, is under fire from the residents of Vikhroli, his own backward. Dalvi, in the middle of a controversy over the BMC handing over parks to private players, now faces the ire of Vikhroli residents over the changes he proposed to make at the Sambhaji Maidan in VIkhroli east.
The park, known as Vikhroli’s Shivaji Park, covers an area of over 22,725 square metres and has been in the middle of a controversy for the last few days.
The reason for the controversy is a proposal to build an indoor stadium at one corner of the maidan at the cost of nearly Rs 2 crore.
Proposal for stadium
The stadium would contain facilities like a chess room, table tennis room, carom and pool room along with a gym and a multipurpose hall. But residents do not see the need for a stadium in their favourite maidan.
“If we put a gallery here, the wall will block all air to the house in front. If they set up a gym, they will want an entry fee and then we can’t get in,” said a resident.
“We have collected signatures from all the residents here, they do not want the gym. Even after that if they decide to build such a structure, we will file a PIL in the High Court,” said Vijay Salvi, President, Maidan Bachao Samiti.
Only recently has the city decided to hand over 244 parks for private development. In the past clubs like Matoshree in Jogeshwari and MIG in Bandra were once public parks.
Today they have been turned into a private member’s only club. But the Mayor insists that nothing like that would happen.
“There will be no privatisation, at least not here. I personally guarantee that,” said Datta Dalvi, Mayor, Mumbai.
The mayor has called the residents of the area for a meeting on Sunday where the residents will vote on the proposal.
If they decide against it then the idea will be completely scrapped. But the residents are skeptical.