Councillors, INTACH at loggerheads over museum overhaul

Phatak demands report on noting made by his predecessor

The municipal corporation’s decision to hand over artefacts, paintings, objects and the Bhau Daji Lad Museum building to Tasneem Mehta, the museum’s managing trustee and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Mumbai’s convener, has invited controversy.

Following reports about criticism from political and activist quarters on the manner in which the museum’s assets were being handed over, BMC commissioner Jairaj Phatak has asked for a report on the noting made by his predecessor, Johny Joseph, over the feasibility of the hand over. The report is expected to arrive by Monday.

The note, one of the last to be signed by Joseph on April 27 as municipal commissioner, states, “Mehta has suggested that all articles, books, registers and museum building etc. be handed over to Mrs Mehta, managing trustee. In view of this, if agreed, all articles with regard to Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum be handed over to Mehta by the BMC’s assistant curator at the museum, Suman Tate.”

While the administration maintains that it was a mere transfer of responsibility, the wording of the letter has become a bone of contention. While Congress corporator Vinod Shekhar is of the opinion that “the prestigious municipal property must not be handed over to an individual”, Indian Heritage Society chairperson Anita Garware echoed the view. “We are the custodians of all artefacts in the museum. They cannot be handed over to an individual but should be in the custody of a trust,” she says.

Mehta, however, countered this stating, “As an autonomous body, the museum trust has passed a resolution for the handover in August last. I am only holding charge and responsibility as a functionary of the trust and not as an individual.”

Shekhar adds, “The corporation was yet to  pass a resolution advocating the handover.” But, Mehta says, “Why were no questions asked when we were working on the museum’s conservation?”

Another controversy brewing is that of the trust’s decision to repatriate 22 BMC staff working at the museum. It has instead recruited new staff and has recommended creation of 19 new posts over the next three years.  “We have suggested that BMC functionaries continue, offered them higher salaries. But they declined the offer,” Mehta said.

A senior BMC official said, “We were offered jobs on deputation on the trust’s terms. Why should we go on deputation to our own office?” Interestingly, it is the BMC which is bearing salaries of both municipal and the private staff. The museum’s administrative expenditure, which was Rs 22 lakh annually, has shot up to Rs. 49 lakh.