Museum trust dissolved, civic body gets more say in Bhau Daji Lad affairs

The move breaks a 12-year-old resolution by the three to form a trust for efficient management of the museum.

While a six-month extension has been granted to the trust, comprising BMC, INTACH and Bajaj, the civic body will frame regulations to run the trust and the museum in the same time-frame. The BMC will also decide on the formation of a new committee which will handle the museum’s affairs post the expiry of the extension.

Sandeep Deshpande, MNS Corporator, said, “Though she is the chairperson of the trust, the Mayor was never taken into confidence while deciding anything about the museum, this includes the fashion show held last month. This is a welcome decision for the future of the museum.”

The MNS has been the most vocal critic of the trust’s plans in allegedly usurping the playground adjoining the museum for further operations. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, museum’s honorary director, has, however, maintained that the trust’s intentions were to create a play area for children in the neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, the Republican Sena approached Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte and Mayor Snehal Ambekar, pointing out the erroneous absence of Chaitya Bhoomi, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s memorial, in the draft development plan 2034 (DP). Ambekar said, “I have submitted a letter to the commissioner, highlighting this issue, and asked for immediate action.” Kunte, however, clarified, “No change has been proposed in the reservation of Chaitya Bhoomi in DP. The reservation will continue without any modification.”

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