The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Garden Infrastructure Cell (GIC) has reportedly received more than 160 proposals from corporators to beautify gardens in their respective wards.
According to data provided by the BMC, a total of 164 garden works related proposals have been sent with the plan to implement it over the next 12 months. Around 25 of these proposals, which is also the highest, came from K-East (Andheri, Jogeshwari), while corporators from M-East (Govandi, Mankhurd) and ward L (Kurla, Sakinaka) have sent 20 and 15 proposals, respectively.
As it stands, of the 227 elected corporators across Mumbai, Shiv Sena holds 97, while BJP has 83 corporators and Congress has 29.
Civic body data also reveals that between 2017 and 2019, around 94 gardens have been developed or improved while works on 35 other gardens are currently underway. Officials cited the prolonged coronavirus lockdown for the delay given that the labour force was in short supply.
A civic body official said, “With the polls coming, most corporators want to show some development work in their electoral wards. They are eyeing either a ground-breaking ceremony for sanctioned work or an inauguration if the work is complete.”
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In a situation like this, corporators approach the GIC to point out the poor conditions of gardens/open spaces in their wards and seek urgent implementation of developmental works. Some officials have said that corporators push for the development of gardens and open spaces that are already in a good condition.
“Many corporators’ proposals involve gardens that were beautified or developed about two-three years ago and are in good condition. But they are insistent on beautifying them. After receiving letters, civic staff visited at some locations and found that most open spaces were in good condition,” an anonymous official was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
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Given the massive flow of letters requesting the beautification of gardens, civic officials are reportedly filtering through each proposal by visiting the locations to manually check if it suits the criteria for redevelopment.
Officials said that although the BMC set aside ₹70 crores for the GIC last year, the amount has now been reduced to ₹53 crores for 2021-22. The beautification process of open spaces includes the installation of walking and jogging tracks, horticulture, gym equipment, and seating areas.
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