Govt steps in to save open spaces

NAGPUR/MUMBAI: Providing a major respite for the Mumbai’s sports lovers, environmentalists and social activists, the Maharashtra government on Thursday said it would not approve any resolution by the BMC to hand over its playgrounds/recreation grounds to private parties under the caretaker scheme.

This means that it will not allow 25% of the grounds to be developed for commercial purposes and would instead revert to the previous policy of allotting open spaces for “adoption”. Hence, even if the BMC gives its go-ahead (which is unlikely), it will not become a resolution. Green activists welcomed this “sane and sensible” move. 

Mayor Shubha Raul too sought a revisit of the policy too and said, “There was a need to chart out a policy which will provide good recreation spaces for middle class Mumbaikars. We should stay away from provisions that will create facilities only for the elite.” It was her own party, the Shiv Sena, which had approved the proposal in the civic improvements committee last Thursday.

The state decision came after BJP’s volte-face over the caretaker policy. Leader, Gopinath Munde said his party had taken the decision to get rid of encroachments on the open spaces. He said he had a change of mind after listening to protests from sports lovers and other organisations.