Local corporator Alice Johnson Therattil of ward no 84 had met the additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar on Thursday to discuss the revival plan.
Much to the disappointment of the residents near the Kalina pond (see picture), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to develop only one-third of the 400-year-old, 7.5-acre Kalina pond plot. The pond has been filled with debris over the years and the locals have always maintained that the entire place should be converted back into a pond, as it was a water-holding area during monsoons.
The BMC initially had plans to revive the whole pond land; instead it now has plans for other facilities. Local corporator Alice Johnson Therattil of ward no 84 had met the additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar on Thursday to discuss the revival plan.
“It is not possible to revive the whole plot into a pond. BMC is developing most of the area for the benefit of senior citizens and children. As per the developmental plan, there were reservations for a talao (pond) and a cemetery. The cemetery plan has been cancelled,” said Therattil.
The BMC, instead, plans to have a herbarium of medicinal and aromatic plants, three meditation centres, a meditation pavilion, football and cricket grounds, a tennis court, a reading sit out area and a playground. “Mhaiskar will come to visit the site after the code of conduct ceases to be in force,” said Therattil.
“The ecological balance in the area is lost due to the disappearance of the pond. We want the entire plot to be revived as a pond. The BMC and politicians want to make meditation centres for their own commercial benefits. It’s not for the public,” said Robert Jacinto, from Kolovery village in Kalina.
“We have water-logging problems during the monsoons. All natural ponds should be cleaned and revived,” said Oneil Kinny, member of Kolovery Village Welfare Association (KVWA). “We are taking the help of Mumbai mayor Shubha Raul to intervene in this matter,” said Angelo Galbano, president of KVWA. This pond was a natural open and underground reservoir till 2001, which allowed rainwater from Air India colony to go through Resham Singh nullah (sewage pipe) and further flow into the Mithi River.
UD Mistry, assistant municipal commissioner, H-east ward, said “It's true that we plan to build a garden and revive the pond. But as per the development plan, there's a reservation on the cemetery. Unless the government lifts the reservation, we cannot prepare revival plan.’
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}