The Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban District, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) would finalise its open space adoption policy in 15 days. Under this policy, the civic body will give playgrounds up for adoption. Specialised sports facilities will also be set up on those playgrounds. The common man will have access to them after paying a nominal fee.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha made this announcement during a press conference held at BMC’s headquarters on January 9. He further added that the BMC has now decided to publish the final recreation grounds and playgrounds (RG-PG) policy. In December 2023, citizens opposed the policy during a meeting held to hear objections over this idea. Back then, citizens were demanding that all gardens and grounds be maintained by the civic body itself.
Congress corporators created a stir in December 2023, when activists and corporators were invited to a meeting for discussion. They claimed that Lodha does not have the power to hold the meeting with BMC staff. They claimed that controlling the open spaces in BMC was the BJP's goal.
Lodha said that he has also suggested that the BMC should maintain all the open spaces and gardens. He said that this rule will be implemented for swimming pools that are on land owned by the BMC and managed by private parties.
Recently, a high-level meeting was held to discuss this issue, which was attended by Lodha, Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, and other senior officials.
Lodha said that he had forwarded all suggestions received to BMC in a letter. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining gardens and ensuring open spaces are not allocated to any operational organisations. He proposed that BMC should set reasonable rates for specific sports grounds like cricket, football, basketball, or gym facilities. He also said that there should be no restrictions on the use of these spaces.
In September 2023, the policy's draft was released. The BMC received 100 written complaints regarding it shortly after the announcement was made.
The Mumbai Congress unit demanded that the new policy draft on open spaces, recreation grounds, or playgrounds be scrapped. The new policy should only be implemented with the consent of the corporators, or Nagar Sevaks.
In October 2023, a team led by Varsha Gaikwad met with BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and delivered a memo that outlined problems with the new policy.
The Mumbai Congress further stressed that it is illegal and harmful to democracy to approve the policy without consulting with the public representatives of more than two crore people.
There are 1,104 playgrounds and recreation areas totaling 562 hectares. 52 grounds are maintained by private clubs or institutes. Private organisations can develop sporting activities and levy fees in open spaces, like playgrounds and recreation fields, owing to the existing BMC’s playground and open space policy.
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