Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured of basic amenities such as drinking water, adequate lighting, washrooms and security, for visitors at all public gardens run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai.
During a legislative assembly on Tuesday, March 21, directed the BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on providing basic amenities at the gardens, parks and playgrounds in the city.
This development came after the civic body, last week, on March 16, allowed gardens to stay open for longer hours.
Shinde also announced that 10 ‘good quality’ toilets each along the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and the Western Express Highway (WEH) would be constructed.
In addition, more toilets would come up on Marine Drive promenade that currently has only one, the CM said.
As per BMC records, there are 277 gardens, 477 recreation grounds, and 347 playgrounds in the city. Of the city’s total area of 347 sq km, 14 sq km are reserved for open spaces.
BJP legislator Ashish Shelar said there is a need for such basic amenities not just in gardens, but most of the cricket grounds in the city as well. While, washrooms in some gardens were demolished.
He further stated that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act does not make it mandatory on part of BMC to look after the creation and maintenance of open spaces and claimed that he was earlier promised on the floor of the house that an amendment to the law would be made.
Industries minister Uday Samant, who is holding the charge of urban development department, assured Shelar that his demand would be met.
Besides, the government has also decided to work on the legislators’ demand that tasks to create open spaces and amenities be brought under the Maharashtra Right to Public Service Act, which mandates time-bound delivery.
Shinde told the house that a meeting of all city MLAs and government would be held to discuss whether to include open spaces in the right to service provision.
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