IE : Open spaces: Pvt builders could have their way : Aug 31, 2007

Open spaces: Pvt builders could have their way
? BMC sticks to ‘caretaker model’ for new gyms, club houses, swimming pools
SAYLI UDAS-MANKIKAR
AUGUST 30

THE Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, it seems, has made up its mind on
the manner in which the city’s open spaces will be developed. Over 40
Recreation Ground (RG) plots together making up more than 3,00,000 square
metres of precious space in Mumbai and its eastern and western suburbs will
soon be made available for developers to build gyms, club houses, stadiums
and swimming pools.

A topic of contentious debate over the years, the BMC has decided to stick
to its earlier choice of the “caretaker” model over the “adoption” model to
develop recreation grounds (RG) above 15,000 sq m. This means, the BMC
commissioner will have the last word on calling tenders and choosing the
agencies for each project.

“It is the same policy that was placed at the special meeting of the
improvements committee on July 28,” said BMC commissioner Jairaj Phatak. “It
was sent back then. But this time, we can discuss the issues corporators
objected to.” The next meeting of the improvements committee is in
September. After a nod there, the proposal goes to the general body for a
final approval.

At the BMC, which has kept aside Rs 400 crore for the development of open
spaces in their Playground (PG) and Gardens category , the debate over the
two models seemed endless. No budgetary outlay was created for development
of RGs.

According to the caretaker model, private developers are allowed to build
and construct clubs, including gymkhanas and restaurants on almost 25 per
cent of these Recreation Ground plots, with the rest of the land to be kept
open. Ten per cent of the area is to be used for the plinth area and 25 per
cent of the plot can be used for ancillary services. The land which is
reserved for a mini mum of 33 years is available to pri vate builders at
0.33 Floor Space In dex (FSI). But under the adoption model, any
organisation is free to “adopt” and maintain a plot of public land or garden for five years. It will only be allowed to do fencing, land scaping and lighting. Apart from
constructing a security cubicle, no construction is allowed.

Although the improvements com mittee hasn’t been entirely positive about the
chosen model, none of its members has rejected it. While Con gress
corporators questioned the re jection of the adoption model for larger
plots, BJP corporators were more concerned about the adminis tration
“usurping” its powers.

According to the BMC, for plots between 5,000 sq metres and 15,000 sq
metres, the administration must first explore possibilities of developing
them under the adoption model, before agreeing to the caretaker model. As
for plots above 15,000 sq metres, the BMC commissioner is at liberty to
invite applications for development and maintenance.

Additional municipal commissioner R A Rajeev clarified that in case of plots
between 5,000 sq m and 15,000 sq m, although the civic body did not receive
adequate responses for adoption, they are still keeping their options open
for some time.

City activists, however, are against the move. “The adoption policy hasn’t
been given a fair chance and the caretaker policy would mean giving away
public land to private developers through the connivance of politicians,”
alleged Naina Katpalia, coconvenor of City Space.

She cited the instance of 10 BMC plots that have been developed on a
caretaker basis-the Matoshree Sports Complex at Jogeshwari, Prabodhankar
Thackeray Sports Complex at Vile Parle and MIG Club at Bandra, among
others-but are not accessible to “common citizens”.

Publication : IE; Section : MN; Pg : 1; Date : 31/8/07
URL :
http://70.86.150.130/indianexpress/ArticleText.aspx?article=31_08_2007_521_004