RNA Corporate usurps Chembur playground

Children do not play cricket or football on Ramesh Pradhan playground anymore. The 12,000-sqm open ground at Chembur’s Subhash Nagar looks more like a construction site.

RNA Corporate, who has bagged the project to redevelop five Mhada buildings on the perimeter of the playground, is not only denying locals the right to use the open space, but is ostensibly also short-changing residents.

Residents claim that the developer is building an 18-storey building with eight wings without securing the requisite permissions — and part of this tower is coming up on part of the playground.

The builder is selling flats at RNA Continental at Rs13,000 per sq ft.

“RNA has barricaded the ground and our children have no place to play,” said Vanita Acharya, a resident of Building Number 12, adding that under the guise of amalgamation, the developer has usurped the public ground for private use.

“The builder had promised that he will keep access to the ground open from one side, but he is gradually converting the entire ground — or whatever is left of it — into a private garden for his project,” claimed Acharya. She and other residents plan to file a public interest litigation to save their playground.

There is trouble brewing even among the residents of the five buildings who signed up with RNA Corporate for the redevelopment project.

“The builder secured the consent of each resident separately, promising them flats in the new building that would come up on the same spot. But he got the project sanctioned as an amalgamated development,” claimed a resident, requesting anonymity.

Any attempts by the residents to resist the developer’s plans were allegedly thwarted by his men. “Even the authorities are turning a blind eye to all the wrongdoings, thanks to the developer’s clout and blessings of his politician friends,” the resident added.

Locals also claim that the part of the playground on which the tower is coming up was taken from the municipal corporation at a concessional rate to relocate the original residents. But, civic officials maintain that the playground is still its property and the construction will be cleared after all criteria are fulfilled.

“We have given permission for only ground-plus-two level. In case of violations, the final permission will not be given,” said an official from the civic building and proposal department.
While some of the residents are yet to be relocated, others have been given pigeon-hole apartments in the new building.

“We were much better off earlier; we could breathe freely,” said one of the residents relocated in Jaya Laxmi Society, adding that the developer has not yet given them the agreements.

“We can neither sell these houses nor take a loan. We have been duped,” the resident said, refusing to be identified for fear of reprisal.

Residents of some buildings, including Building Number 12, in Subhash Nagar now plan to go for self-redevelopment.
“But, no other builder is willing to take up our project, fearing RNA’s clout,” Acharya said.

But RNA Corporate rubbished most allegations.

Admitting that the playground space has been misused, RNA spokesperson said though the alignment has been changed, the total area of the playground will remain the same after development. “We will maintain the ground as per the civic norms.”

On non-issuance of documents to the relocated residents, the spokesperson said: “We have issued the letters of allotment and
the process for formation of society is under way, after which all the documents will be handed over to the residents.”