BMC again pours cold water on museum’s new wing plan
Refuses to allow use of adjoining playground, instead allots a plot at Kalachowkie.
Delivering a blow to Dr Bhau Daji Lad (BDL) museum director Tasneem Zakaria Mehta’s plans to use an adjoining playground for museum expansion,BMC on Thursday scrapped the proposal and instead asked them to use a plot few kilometres away.
Citing that the proposed plot is reserved as a garden in the Development Plan, the civic body asked Mehta to draw up a new proposal using a plot at Kalachowkie where BMC is already planning a textile museum.
Ajoy Mehta .
Mumbai Mirror had reported in 2013 how the museum authorities (including the BMC) were planning a brand new wing on the adjoining two-acre playground. The wing –complete with new galleries, an interpretation centre, a library, an archive, a museum shop and cafe among others – was expected to cost around Rs 400 crore.
The museum even chose international architect Steven Holl to design the new wing even as the move met with stiff resistance from theMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS ). The party had opposed the expansion claiming the open space was used by children from neighbouring areas as a playground.
While resistence was detected from political parties quite early, it became clear that the BMC too were not in favour of the expansion earlier this year after it failed to make the necessary budgetary provision. BMC’s development plan also failed to reserve the plot to carry out the proposal. Thursday’s meeting between museum authorities, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and others finally merely turned out to be the final nail.
“This is a victory for MNS. We have struggled for three years to save this open space. Even the commissioner agreed to our demands,” said MNS corporator Sandip Deshpande who spearheaded the movement.
“They are not saying that there can’t be any expansion of the museum. BMC commissioner has offered another space in Kalachowkie mill,” said Mehta.
BMC orders museum’s transparency
Meanwhile, the BMC also sought an audit of the museum’s accounts – a longstanding demand raised by political parties.
Among the allegations made were that the museum’s accounts were not being audited, its artefacts were not being audited, it had recruited staff without due process and many more.
“We have made it clear to museum authorities that their operations should be made completely transparent when it comes to art work, exhibitions and acquisition of artefacts. Every world-class museum has a policy for acquisition of artefacts,” Mehta told Mirror. The civic body has appointed its audit department to examine the museum’s accounts.
Delivering a blow to Dr Bhau Daji Lad (BDL) museum director Tasneem Zakaria Mehta’s plans to use an adjoining playground for museum expansion,
Citing that the proposed plot is reserved as a garden in the Development Plan, the civic body asked Mehta to draw up a new proposal using a plot at Kalachowkie where BMC is already planning a textile museum.
“The plot has been reserved for a garden. The city is already devoid of open spaces and the museum was originally designed keeping this beautiful space in mind. Therefore it is not possible to have the new wing there,” said BMC commissioner
Mumbai Mirror had reported in 2013 how the museum authorities (including the BMC) were planning a brand new wing on the adjoining two-acre playground. The wing –complete with new galleries, an interpretation centre, a library, an archive, a museum shop and cafe among others – was expected to cost around Rs 400 crore.
The museum even chose international architect Steven Holl to design the new wing even as the move met with stiff resistance from the
While resistence was detected from political parties quite early, it became clear that the BMC too were not in favour of the expansion earlier this year after it failed to make the necessary budgetary provision. BMC’s development plan also failed to reserve the plot to carry out the proposal. Thursday’s meeting between museum authorities, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and others finally merely turned out to be the final nail.
“This is a victory for MNS. We have struggled for three years to save this open space. Even the commissioner agreed to our demands,” said MNS corporator Sandip Deshpande who spearheaded the movement.
“They are not saying that there can’t be any expansion of the museum. BMC commissioner has offered another space in Kalachowkie mill,” said Mehta.
BMC orders museum’s transparency
Meanwhile, the BMC also sought an audit of the museum’s accounts – a longstanding demand raised by political parties.
Among the allegations made were that the museum’s accounts were not being audited, its artefacts were not being audited, it had recruited staff without due process and many more.
“We have made it clear to museum authorities that their operations should be made completely transparent when it comes to art work, exhibitions and acquisition of artefacts. Every world-class museum has a policy for acquisition of artefacts,” Mehta told Mirror. The civic body has appointed its audit department to examine the museum’s accounts.
