After more than two decades of abuse, the historic Gandhi Maidan at Kurla was on Monday cleared of industrial and commercial encroachments.
Collector’s office pulls down encroachments that surfaced two decades ago After more than two decades of abuse, the historic Gandhi Maidan at Kurla was on Monday cleared of industrial and commercial encroachments.
The collector’s office, which owns the plot, razed 18 commercial and industrial settlements that had covered 10,000 sq m of the ground.
In the past the ground was used to stage famous political and cultural rallies apart from being a recreation ground for children in the locality. In the eighties, two political rallies by former prime minister Indira Gandhi were held at the ground.
Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s first sabha for unison of Belgaum with Maharashtra was also held on this ground. Marathi cinema legend Dada Kondke had twice organised tamashas at the venue.
DNA has been pursing the case since November 2006. After persistent protests from senior citizens’ group of Kurla and 28 sports clubs in the region, led by the Gauri Shankar Krida Mandal, the collector’s office razed the structures clearing the ground of encroachments.
Encroachments began in the mid-eighties, when local hoodlums captured a portion of the ground and built hutments. Soon godowns of plastic, cement and sand companies, tea shops sprung up leaving no empty space on the ground.
Pramod Salve, deputy collector (encroachments) said, “We cleared all structures except a dargah and a hutment, which produced legal proof.” When asked why the demolition was delayed since eviction notices were issued in December, Salve said that his team was occupied with other work.”
Local residents, however, were not complaining. Kaka Chauhan, president of senior citizens’ group, which has been in the forefront campaign for restoring the ground said, “Our fight is finally bearing fruits.”
Reminiscing school days when he played cricket on the ground, the 75-year-old said, “I hope the ground is restored to its original shape now.” Chauhan, however, demanded that the ground be fenced to avoid encroachments resurfacing .
Salve said that he will ensure that the ground is fenced and that the proposal of local residents will be considered.
){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}
){kind=small}