Appoint residents' welfare groups as caretakers for open spaces in Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai is a planned city. For the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) it is the “city of 21st century”. Each and every node is planned well with provision for gardens, schools, hospitals, playgrounds and other facilities.

Though the Cidco has developed this city, is has failed to protect the open spaces from encroachers. The town planning agency must guard the open spaces and place signboards showing purpose of the area reserved or marked for. 

In many nodes, the open spaces have been encroached for religious purpose. Illegal religious shrines have been constructed with an aim to encroach spaces. Recently, in Kamothe an illegal shrine was demolished by officials from Cidco.

I have a suggestion. In Navi Mumbai, every node has residents welfare association. The town planning agency can seek help from such associations to protect the open spaces like gardens, playgrounds by appointing them as caretakers.

If any space is allotted for any religious shrines it is to be done only after verifying the credentials of such applicants/organisations and consulting the residents of that particular area. Will authorities listen?