Amid protests, Raj lays stone for Bhandup theme park

Interestingly, Thackeray chose to leave the venue after the function without uttering a word. There had been doubts whether Thackeray would show up for the function in view of the questions raised by the Shiv Sena.

The theme park, Maze Jag (My World), is the brainchild of MNS MLA from Vikhroli Mangesh Sangle, who claims the project, which would cost Rs 9-10 crore, will provide “affordable entertainment space for citizens” and is being built on state government land with the help of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

The Shiv Sena has, however, claimed the plot comes under the jurisdiction of the salt department and the project does not have requisite permissions from the central government.

“The land in question is owned by the central government through the salt department. It has been leased for manufacture of salt for a period of 99 years, which ends in 2016. As no permission from the department has been granted for the proposed project, it should be taken to be unauthorised work on government land,” said local Shiv Sena leader Datta Dalvi, who was Mumbai’s mayor between 2005 and 2007.

The MNS has refuted the allegations, claiming that the land has been earmarked as a tourism zone. “I am saddened by the Shiv Sena’s attempt to create a hurdle in this issue. This entire area has been earmarked by the government as a tourism zone. The land does not belong to the salt land commissioner. I have all the requisite documents and clearances in place for this project,” Sangle said.

According to Sangle, the amusement park project includes construction and installation of a giant wheel, sky range, trampolines, mini train and an amphitheatre. Beautification of a lake within the premises and construction of a wall around the water body will also be carried out at a later stage.

Bhandup has been a bone of contention between the Shiv Sena and the MNS ever since the Sena lost the Marathi-dominated constituency in the 2009 Assembly elections and subsequent 2012 civic elections.

Last month, the beautification of Shivaji Talao in Bhandup had turned into another sore point between the two parties after the MNS demanded the installation of a railing and pathway around the pond. The demand was strongly opposed in the BMC, which is in-charge of executing the beautification plan, since the Shiv Sena viewed it as a ploy by the MNS to claim credit for the Rs 1.2-crore project.

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