When Mumbai was growing during 19th century, a great philanthropist, Jagannath Sunkersett, gave away huge sums of money and large tracts of land for development of the city.
When Mumbai was growing during 19th century, a great philanthropist, Jagannath Sunkersett, gave away huge sums of money and large tracts of land for development of the city. However, when a Shiv Sena corporator sought a plot to build a fitting memorial for the generous businessman, the civic body told him that they don’t have enough land for it.
Corporator Manmohan Chonkar wrote to the civic improvement committee to allot one acre land to construct a memorial of the city’s architect citing that Sunkersett had contributed immensely for the development of the city. He started schools, colleges and hospitals, the letter mentioned. On behalf of the civic body, he provided street lamps all over the city. He also proposed underground drains for the first time and followed up the issue with the British rulers.
“Sunkersett was from a goldsmith’s family and there is an organisation which is interested in constructing his memorial in the city,” said Chonkar. “It will keep the memories of Sunkersett alive and the new generation would get information about the great person. We had suggested two plots at Mahim,” he said.
Replying to the letter, the estate department said that the BMC does not have land for the purpose. “The plot suggested by the society is reserved. In future, if any piece of land is found to be available, then the BMC will put think about the request,” said the department.
Jagannath Sunkersett’s great-great grandson Surendra Sunkersett was upset over the reply. “The civic body has no land for the man who donated his land for the city,” he said. “Jagannath Sunkersett donated 10,000 square metres for Marine Lines crematorium; he constructed a pond at Banganga; the SK Patil garden has also been developed on the land donated by him.”
In fact, Sunkersett had donated a plot of land to construct the first railway station of India — Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus). “It happened when there was no land record. The record system came into force after 1862,” added Surendra.
Chairman of improvement committee Bhalchandra Shirsat too expressed his displeasure over BMC’s reply. “There is a provision which allows BMC to change reservation for public purpose. It has happened in the past. The BMC will have to change the reservation,” he said.
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