Defend open city spaces in danger of encroachment: Raj tells his corporators
Over 200 kids from over 20 local cricket clubs and mandals participated in the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led protest against the proposed extension of Byculla’s Bhau Daji Lad museum on Sunday afternoon. The demonstration, which was organised by the MNS corporator responsible for that neighbourhood, Samita Naik, is part of the party’s strategy to identify open spaces in the city that it feels are threatened and prevent such locations from being taken over by construction projects. The MNS has 27 elected representatives in the city corporation and many have begun identifying open spaces that they wish to “defend from encroachment”.
In a meeting of its corporators last week, party chief Raj Thackeray reportedly told each leader to pick one open space and protect it from encroachment and beautify it. “Rajsaheb was reviewing our performance and told us to take up protection of open spaces in a big way,” said an MNS functionary who did not wish to be named. “The corporators are now identifying open spaces in their wards.”
Naik is one such leader: she has been vocal in her opposition to the museum’s expansion plans, which necessitate the use of a children’s playground adjacent to the existing structure. On Sunday, the protestors marched from the contentious playground to the steps of the museum, with cricket bats and stumps as props, bellowing slogans.
According to the museum’s building plan, the extent of the expansion will cover an area measuring about 120,000 sq ft, occupying two open plots adjacent to the existing building. Less than two days after the expansion plan was announced a fortnight ago, the MNS voiced its dissent against the BMC’s bid to appropriate a large plot that abuts the museum for a parking lot and landscaped stretch. Following the party’s letter complaining against the expansion to Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte, other political factions joined voice with the party.
According to the plan, a new wing will be added to the northern flank of Bhau Daji Lad, which is Mumbai's oldest museum. The project will receive private sector funding and monetary assistance from the BMC. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, honorary director of Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, along with Kunte had announced Steven Holl Architects as the winner of the Mumbai City Museum North Wing Design Competition.
Mehta was emphatic that the museum had been careful in accounting for the disputed parcel, pointing out that vehicles would be parked underground. She has maintained that the expansion plans don’t violate any civic norms. “The open space will remain as it is. We are just building a sculpture garden and creating a green space on the plot. Any prominent building needs to have a view or vista, we are only creating a frontage there and the entire area will be maintained as a green space,” she had told Mumbai Mirror in an earlier interview.
In a meeting of its corporators last week, party chief Raj Thackeray reportedly told each leader to pick one open space and protect it from encroachment and beautify it. “Rajsaheb was reviewing our performance and told us to take up protection of open spaces in a big way,” said an MNS functionary who did not wish to be named. “The corporators are now identifying open spaces in their wards.”
Naik is one such leader: she has been vocal in her opposition to the museum’s expansion plans, which necessitate the use of a children’s playground adjacent to the existing structure. On Sunday, the protestors marched from the contentious playground to the steps of the museum, with cricket bats and stumps as props, bellowing slogans.
“This place has been our playground for many years. Over 100 kids gather here every day and the number reaches nearly 200 on weekends. This is a nerve centre for youngsters in the area,” said Abhijit Khamkar of Sankalp Siddhi, the mandal that led other such local mandals at the march. “The entire museum has been privatised and we will oppose that too. From next week we will play cricket outside the main gate of the museum. We will not let our play ground be taken over for an elite purpose.”
According to the museum’s building plan, the extent of the expansion will cover an area measuring about 120,000 sq ft, occupying two open plots adjacent to the existing building. Less than two days after the expansion plan was announced a fortnight ago, the MNS voiced its dissent against the BMC’s bid to appropriate a large plot that abuts the museum for a parking lot and landscaped stretch. Following the party’s letter complaining against the expansion to Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte, other political factions joined voice with the party.
According to the plan, a new wing will be added to the northern flank of Bhau Daji Lad, which is Mumbai's oldest museum. The project will receive private sector funding and monetary assistance from the BMC. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, honorary director of Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, along with Kunte had announced Steven Holl Architects as the winner of the Mumbai City Museum North Wing Design Competition.
Mehta was emphatic that the museum had been careful in accounting for the disputed parcel, pointing out that vehicles would be parked underground. She has maintained that the expansion plans don’t violate any civic norms. “The open space will remain as it is. We are just building a sculpture garden and creating a green space on the plot. Any prominent building needs to have a view or vista, we are only creating a frontage there and the entire area will be maintained as a green space,” she had told Mumbai Mirror in an earlier interview.
