New BMC policy to attract only genuine caretakers……Sharvari Patwa
Mumbai As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation plans to invite public suggestions and objections to its newly drafted caretaker policy, the officials say once implemented, the policy will draw only those players who are genuinely interested in maintaining and beautifying the recreation ground plots.
The newly drafted policy is sure to attract only genuine players as non-genuine players will not find the terms very appealing, said a senior BMC official. We are trying to err on the safer side in drafting this policy and have addressed the concerns in the previous caretaker policy, said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner. There will be complete physical separation of the plot wherein 25% will be given to the private party and the rest will be owned and maintained by BMC.
The private party will have no right on the 75% of the land but will pay for its maintenance to the BMC, said Gupta.
According to a senior official who requested anonymity,There is a very high chance that open space will not find caretakers under the new policy and will not find favour with politicians too.
He added, The terms which earlier attracted private parties and made it easier for them to grab open spaces have now been scrapped.
The private party will have no scope of physical or even legal possession of the 75% of the plot, said Gupta. The money which the private party will pay for the maintenance will be credited in a bank account, so technically and legally the private party will not have any access right, according to civic officials.
If there is no private party interested in a particular open space under the new caretaker policy, then the BMC will maintain and run it, said Gupta.