The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday had issued a letter to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) seeking immediate handover of the Wankhede Stadium premises to convert it into a COVID-19 quarantine/isolation facility for asymptomatic patients. However, the residents in the area raised objections against the plan and wrote to Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta. After which, on Sunday, the BMC chief Iqbal Chahal clarified that Wankhede stadium will not be used for this purpose.
While talking to media persons at Sion Hospital, Chahal said that he had no idea how the news came out as he had already decided against using Wankhede stadium as a quarantine facility, a week ago. He further added that having an open ground for patients would not be possible as Wankhede would get mucky during monsoon.
"If it gets flooded then taking up ground can not be a good option. We are not taking any stadium for construction of quarantine facility," Chahal said.
He further stated that the civic body has already arranged for 37,000 beds as the local authorities had taken over hotels and government hostels. He added that the BMC already has 1-lakh beds facility without using any stadium and it would be better to use parking lots, malls, airports if the need arises.
When the report of BMC taking over Wankhede had come out, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had applauded the decision and even suggested making a similar facility at the Brabourne stadium. However, State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray ruled it out on similar grounds.
“All resources need to be utilised in Mumbai to fight against #Covid_19India. Good call on taking up Wankhede stadium to develop a quarantine facility. Suggestion to @OfficeofUT-why not take over Brabourne stadium as well? It has much needed facilities @PawarSpeaks @AUThackeray,” Raut tweeted.
All resources need to be utilized in Mumbai to fight against #Covid_19india.good call on taking up wankhede stadium to develop a quarantine facility..suggestion to @OfficeofUT - why not take over Brabourne stadium as well?It has much needed facilities @PawarSpeaks @AUThackeray
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) May 17, 2020
Replying to which, Thackeray said, "Sanjay ji, we can’t take the grounds of the stadiums or playgrounds because they have a mud base and they won’t be usable during monsoons. An open space with a solid/ concrete base is usable and it’s being done already."
Sanjay ji, we can’t take the grounds of the stadiums or playgrounds because they have a mud base and they won’t be usable during monsoons. An open space with a solid/ concrete base is usable and it’s being done already.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 17, 2020
Share
Tweet
