Activists and corporators think that the civic authority will not need to depend on private institutes as it has enough funds to manage open spaces
The civic body's policy to manage open spaces is hanging in uncertainty as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has found no takers for the 186 open spaces under its interim policy, in the last 11 months. Activists and corporators think that the civic authority will not need to depend on private institutes as it has enough funds to manage open spaces.
Earlier, there was an uproar about BMC's policy to give open places to private trusts for their upkeep and maintainance. BMC had given more than 225 open spaces to various private companies in the past 12 years. In 2015, BMC had come up with the policy of giving open spaces to private trusts these on a lease of five years with other permits to construct near the walls, put up advertisements and so on. But, after strong opposition from activists and the common public, BMC introduced the interim policy to lease open plots for 11 months in November 2017. The civic body managed to take 189 plots from a total of 216 from private trusts and appealed to take them back under the new interim policy. According to the civic body's proposal, private trusts can adopt and maintain open spaces for a period of 11 months. Trusts can put up one advertisement but can't do any construction work. Few trusts were interested but no one has come forward yet. Not a single private trust has come forward to manage open spaces in 11 months.
Kishore Kshirsagar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Gardens)of BMC told DNA, "As of now no one has come forward to maintain open spaces under the interim policy. So we are maintaining all the gardens and playgrounds. We are not thinking of a new policy or changes in the interim policy as of now."
"BMC has all the infrastucture and funds to maintain open space. Its their basic duty to look after public spaces. Residents will come forward and help them," said Vidya Vaidya, a social worker.
"Why does BMC need private trusts to maintain public places. Its an important part of city's life and BMC should maintain them," Rishi Agrawal, an environmentalist said.
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