BMC proposes new open spaces policy

In a bid to provide open spaces to the residents of the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to come up with a separate policy to develop playgrounds, said IA Kundan, BMC's Additional Municipal Commissioner, during a standing committee meeting on Friday. Members had earlier raised doubts on the existing policy under which playgrounds do not meet the need of residents.

To begin with, the civic body has tabled a proposal to develop Raje Sambhaji Maidan in Mulund (east) under T-ward at a cost of Rs 9.3 crore. As per the proposal, the playgrounds will have facilities like basketball court, volleyball court, and skating rink among others. The BMC took over the 5,000 sq metre plot from Mulund Gymkhana in January for maintenance purposes. However, the civic body found that the plot was being used for marriages and other private functions. In 1999, the BMC had handed over 5,000 sqm of the 26,213 sqm plot to Mulund Gymkhana to promote sport-related activities. The terms and conditions, however, were violated after the ground was taken over by the Gymkhana.

Among other issues, the members questioned the provision of a skating rink in the proposed playground, during the meeting. Shiv Sena member Prabhakar Shinde also cited an example of a playground being developed for the locals but was not used because it did not meet their requirements. Congress member Asif Zacariah said that in the present system, a contractor is appointed first and then development plan is prepared. Shinde was seconded by Samajwadi Party Raees Shaikh and other members of the committee.

However, Shaikh alleged that the Garden department does not pay heed to senior civic officials and that is why they came up with a proposal to develop the city's playgrounds. Additional Municipal Commissioner, Kundan said, "We need to develop playgrounds as per the requirement of the locals and I feel that there is a need for a separate policy for developing playgrounds on open space," Kundan said, adding that the administration will soon come up with a policy and table it in the committee.