NGO to help local groups save open spaces
Mumbai: An NGO, Karmayog has come forward to help citizens groups preserve open spaces in their localities. Its members have not only listed out guidelines, but have also promised to help find sponsors for residents groups, which are allotted the spaces.
The BMCs existing policy about the handing over of recreation grounds/ play grounds and gardens to private organisations states that allotment for adoption of plots is to be done by the civic body by inviting applications through public advertisements. Only when no response is received to two advertisements, can the BMC consider allotting these plots on caretaker basis, which allows construction on 25% of the plot.
The government has stayed the BMCs decision to give preference to the caretaker policy in case of large plots. However, the original policy, which says that plots with no takers under the adoption scheme will be handed over to private parties on caretaker basis, is still being followed.
The guidelines state that organisations applying for the allotment of plots should be registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act (1950), Society Registration Act (1960) and sports organisations affiliated to the national sports bodies. Preference would be given to organisations and corporates with prior experience in similar activities as well as to citizens groups.
Some simple steps to adopting an open space are:
Identify the gardens in your area by going through the list of gardens /open spaces available for adoption from the civic corporation at www.karmayog.com/images/listofgardens.pdf.
Use Google Earth (www.earth.google.com) or WikiMapia (www.wikimapia.org) to get an image of the garden you would like to adopt in its present state.
This will help you find out the exact size of the garden, number of trees , present status (encroached upon or not) and surroundings (roads as well as buildings). You will then be able to draw up a proposal for adoption.
If you take a printout of the images from Google Earth or WikiMapia, you can also easily trace out a plan of the garden you want to adopt or protect. Karmayog will be willing to pay for the exercise.
File an adoption application with the municipal commissioner and email a copy to Karmayog (state your reasons for adoption and your plans for improvement).
If you do not get a response from the BMC in a fortnight, file an RTI plea to find out about the status.
If you need funds for improvement, there are many interested citizens and corporates. Karmayog can be contacted when your adoption application is approved.
It is imperative that housing societies, schools/ colleges, resident associations and NGOs file an adoption application immediately in order to save open spaces. Without citizens participation, the space will be lost.
The BMCs existing policy about the handing over of recreation grounds/ play grounds and gardens to private organisations states that allotment for adoption of plots is to be done by the civic body by inviting applications through public advertisements. Only when no response is received to two advertisements, can the BMC consider allotting these plots on caretaker basis, which allows construction on 25% of the plot.
The government has stayed the BMCs decision to give preference to the caretaker policy in case of large plots. However, the original policy, which says that plots with no takers under the adoption scheme will be handed over to private parties on caretaker basis, is still being followed.
The guidelines state that organisations applying for the allotment of plots should be registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act (1950), Society Registration Act (1960) and sports organisations affiliated to the national sports bodies. Preference would be given to organisations and corporates with prior experience in similar activities as well as to citizens groups.
Some simple steps to adopting an open space are:
Identify the gardens in your area by going through the list of gardens /open spaces available for adoption from the civic corporation at www.karmayog.com/images/listofgardens.pdf.
Use Google Earth (www.earth.google.com) or WikiMapia (www.wikimapia.org) to get an image of the garden you would like to adopt in its present state.
This will help you find out the exact size of the garden, number of trees , present status (encroached upon or not) and surroundings (roads as well as buildings). You will then be able to draw up a proposal for adoption.
If you take a printout of the images from Google Earth or WikiMapia, you can also easily trace out a plan of the garden you want to adopt or protect. Karmayog will be willing to pay for the exercise.
File an adoption application with the municipal commissioner and email a copy to Karmayog (state your reasons for adoption and your plans for improvement).
If you do not get a response from the BMC in a fortnight, file an RTI plea to find out about the status.
If you need funds for improvement, there are many interested citizens and corporates. Karmayog can be contacted when your adoption application is approved.
It is imperative that housing societies, schools/ colleges, resident associations and NGOs file an adoption application immediately in order to save open spaces. Without citizens participation, the space will be lost.
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