BMC takes back first open space; to maintain Prabhadevi garden

The Sane Guruji Udyan at Prabhadevi has become the first open space to be taken back by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The civic body aims to take over 216 open plots, which were given under the previous adoption policy and whose agreement is already over.

As a first phase of this drive, the BMC had last week had served notices to 36 organisations across the city asking them to hand over the open spaces.

The Sane Guruji Udyan, measuring 4,500 square metres and located near the Siddhivinayak Mandir at Prabhadevi, was maintained by M/s DS Mittal. The civic body will now maintain it.

S.V.R. Srinivas, additional municipal commissioner, in charge of the garden department said that the BMC has planned to take over all the 36 plots, which were served notices by January 28.

“The notice clearly states that if the organisation does not willingly hand over the plot, the BMC will take charge of it. As the agreement has ended, there should not be any problem for most to hand over the plots,” said Mr Srinivas.

After the new open space policy was passed in the BMC, CM Devendra Fadnavis, taking note of public wrath, asked the civic body to review the policy. He also asked the BMC to take back 216 open plots, which were given on the previous adoption policy and whose agreement is not valid anymore. The list of these plots, released by the civic body, includes many prominent recreational grounds and playgrounds (RGPGs), which are maintained by politicians’ trusts, corporates and gymkhanas.

The civic body, in the second phase, is planning to send notices to 25 parties, which have been allotted open spaces. The process of sending notices and acquisition of plots would be carried out phase wise, said the official.

To pre-empt possible attempts of private agencies to stall its action of taking over open spaces, the BMC has also filed caveats in the high court and city civil courts.