No pvt players, state tells BMC on developing large open spaces in city
Stay continues on caretaker policy; plots over 15,000 sq m will not even be put up for adoption..SHWETA DESAI THROWING a protec- tive ring around 524 plots re- served as Recreation Grounds and Playgrounds, the state government has di- rected the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to ensure that large plots of land reserved for recreation grounds or playgrounds (RGs/ PGs) are not given to private players either on an adoption basis or under the controversial caretaker pol- icy, which would allow pri- vate players some construc- tion rights on the city’s last open lungs.
This means that around 644 acres of land – the size of 90 Oval maidans – planned to be handed over to private organisa tions under both policies, will now stay open until the state government arrives at a final conclusion on the pol- icy for developing the city’s open spaces.
The directions were issued last week by the state gov- ernment at a high-level meeting with BMC officials. State Urban Development Department secretary T C Benjamin who was present at the meeting said the stay on the caretaker policy’ will therefore continue.
The directions state that RG / PG plots over 15,000 sq metres in area – these had been proposed to be handed over under the caretaker policy – should neither be given for adoption nor under the caretaker policy. So, only smaller plots reserved for gardens and parks will be let out for adoption.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) R A Rajeev said: “We have been given orders from the highest level’ of the state government that large open plots that were earlier a part of the caretaker policy should not even be put up for adoption.” He added that these would be developed by the BMC on its own. “We are in the process of appointing gardening contractors in wards,” he said.
In November 2007, following citizens protests from and political parties, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had stayed the civic body’s care taker policy’ under which plots given to private institutions can be constructed upon for building clubs, gymkhanas, restaurants and bars. The state government had also asked the civic body to submit a report explaining why “despite having a budget”, the BMC is unable to protect open spaces.
Convenor of non-governmental organisation CitiSpace, Neera Punj, among those who had campaigned against the caretaker policy said she is relieved. “Large open plots will remain open, this is good news. No clubs by private players should be allowed on the open area,” she said.
THROWING a protec- tive ring around 524 plots re- served as Recreation Grounds and Playgrounds, the state government has di- rected the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to ensure that large plots of land reserved for recreation grounds or playgrounds (RGs/ PGs) are not given to private players either on an adoption basis or under the controversial caretaker pol- icy, which would allow pri- vate players some construc- tion rights on the city’s last open lungs. This means that around 644 acres of land – the size of 90 Oval maidans – planned to be handed over to pri- vate organisa- tions under both policies, will now stay open until the state government arrives at a final conclusion on the pol- icy for developing the city’s open spaces. The directions were issued last week by the state gov- ernment at a high-level meeting with BMC officials. State Urban Development Department secretary T C Benjamin who was present at the meeting said the stay on the caretaker policy’ will therefore continue. The directions state that RG / PG plots over 15,000 sq metres in area – these had been proposed to be handed over under the caretaker policy – should neither be given for adoption nor under the caretaker policy. So, only smaller plots reserved for gardens and parks will be let out for adoption. Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) R A Rajeev said: “We have been given orders from the high- est level’ of the state govern- ment that large open plots that were earlier a part of the caretaker policy should not even be put up for adop- tion.” He added that these would be developed by the BMC on its own. “We are in the process of appointing gardening contractors in wards,” he said. In Novem- ber 2007, fol- lowing citizens protests from and political parties, Chief Minister Vilas- rao Desh- mukh had stayed the civic body’s care- taker policy’ under which plots given to private institu- tions can be constructed upon for building clubs, gymkhanas, restaurants and bars. The state government had also asked the civic body to submit a report explaining why “despite having a bud- get”, the BMC is unable to protect open spaces. Convenor of non-govern- mental organisation Citi- Space, Neera Punj, among those who had campaigned against the caretaker policy said she is relieved. “Large open plots will remain open, this is good news. No clubs by private players should be allowed on the open area,” she said.
Stay continues on caretaker policy; plots over 15,000 sq m will not even be put up for adoption..SHWETA DESAI THROWING a protec- tive ring around 524 plots re- served as Recreation Grounds and Playgrounds, the state government has di- rected the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to ensure that large plots of land reserved for recreation grounds or playgrounds (RGs/ PGs) are not given to private players either on an adoption basis or under the controversial caretaker pol- icy, which would allow pri- vate players some construc- tion rights on the city’s last open lungs.
This means that around 644 acres of land – the size of 90 Oval maidans – planned to be handed over to private organisa tions under both policies, will now stay open until the state government arrives at a final conclusion on the pol- icy for developing the city’s open spaces.
The directions were issued last week by the state gov- ernment at a high-level meeting with BMC officials. State Urban Development Department secretary T C Benjamin who was present at the meeting said the stay on the caretaker policy’ will therefore continue.
The directions state that RG / PG plots over 15,000 sq metres in area – these had been proposed to be handed over under the caretaker policy – should neither be given for adoption nor under the caretaker policy. So, only smaller plots reserved for gardens and parks will be let out for adoption.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) R A Rajeev said: “We have been given orders from the highest level’ of the state government that large open plots that were earlier a part of the caretaker policy should not even be put up for adoption.” He added that these would be developed by the BMC on its own. “We are in the process of appointing gardening contractors in wards,” he said.
In November 2007, following citizens protests from and political parties, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had stayed the civic body’s care taker policy’ under which plots given to private institutions can be constructed upon for building clubs, gymkhanas, restaurants and bars. The state government had also asked the civic body to submit a report explaining why “despite having a budget”, the BMC is unable to protect open spaces.
Convenor of non-governmental organisation CitiSpace, Neera Punj, among those who had campaigned against the caretaker policy said she is relieved. “Large open plots will remain open, this is good news. No clubs by private players should be allowed on the open area,” she said.
THROWING a protec- tive ring around 524 plots re- served as Recreation Grounds and Playgrounds, the state government has di- rected the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to ensure that large plots of land reserved for recreation grounds or playgrounds (RGs/ PGs) are not given to private players either on an adoption basis or under the controversial caretaker pol- icy, which would allow pri- vate players some construc- tion rights on the city’s last open lungs. This means that around 644 acres of land – the size of 90 Oval maidans – planned to be handed over to pri- vate organisa- tions under both policies, will now stay open until the state government arrives at a final conclusion on the pol- icy for developing the city’s open spaces. The directions were issued last week by the state gov- ernment at a high-level meeting with BMC officials. State Urban Development Department secretary T C Benjamin who was present at the meeting said the stay on the caretaker policy’ will therefore continue. The directions state that RG / PG plots over 15,000 sq metres in area – these had been proposed to be handed over under the caretaker policy – should neither be given for adoption nor under the caretaker policy. So, only smaller plots reserved for gardens and parks will be let out for adoption. Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) R A Rajeev said: “We have been given orders from the high- est level’ of the state govern- ment that large open plots that were earlier a part of the caretaker policy should not even be put up for adop- tion.” He added that these would be developed by the BMC on its own. “We are in the process of appointing gardening contractors in wards,” he said. In Novem- ber 2007, fol- lowing citizens protests from and political parties, Chief Minister Vilas- rao Desh- mukh had stayed the civic body’s care- taker policy’ under which plots given to private institu- tions can be constructed upon for building clubs, gymkhanas, restaurants and bars. The state government had also asked the civic body to submit a report explaining why “despite having a bud- get”, the BMC is unable to protect open spaces. Convenor of non-govern- mental organisation Citi- Space, Neera Punj, among those who had campaigned against the caretaker policy said she is relieved. “Large open plots will remain open, this is good news. No clubs by private players should be allowed on the open area,” she said.