Ameet Satam, an MLA from Andheri (West), has written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) requesting that the BMC and local ALMs be the only ones responsible for maintaining all recreation grounds (RG) and playgrounds (PG). Additionally, it demands that all plots that have been handed to people or institutions on an adoption or caretaker basis be returned to them.
The deputy municipal commissioner (garden) and supervisor of gardens are addressed in a letter dated September 17. In a new open space policy that the BMC recently released, it was mentioned that while RG and PG will be offered options depending on specific criteria, gardens will be managed by the BMC. The adoption of open spaces will only be permitted under the new policy for periods of eleven months, three years, or five years with a number of riders. By paying the BMC 50% of the land's worth, this provision will allow private parties to "acquire" a municipal plot.
Civic activists attacked the decision, claiming that the BMC was powerless to recover the land and that it was being abused or, more frequently, utilized as a private fiefdom of individuals in charge of maintaining it.
In the letter, Satam stated that BMC’s draft policy does not make any sense when it leaves out gardens. The letter claims that the RG and PG should have also been excluded. It continues by saying that the BMC should be in charge of maintaining and caring for the RG, PG, and gardens and that there is no need to hire a third party to do so.
Satam commended the administration for preserving parks and gardens on their own and exempting them from the adoption policy. He said he would have been pleased if the same stance had been taken with respect to RG/PGs throughout the city.
Satam said, “We should firstly acknowledge, understand and accept the fact that any plot/property given on an adoption/caretaker basis creates possession rights on BMC property and it is not possible or extremely difficult and far-fetched to take back the possession of the plot or the property as the concerned party goes to court and it takes a lot of time in the judicial process. We also know the kind of time it takes to close a civil matter in the judicial process.”
In order to create a fair and transparent booking process, it is suggested that BMC take into account enabling the booking of tracks and fields in the same manner as that of swimming pools.
Former Central Information Commission member Shailesh Gandhi believes that an MLA's willingness to publicly support people's positions is a really positive sign and should truly be appreciated.
When Gandhi was questioned that if all the initiative being taken was just a political gimmick he said that politicians are people too, and they have their own goals. However, during this process, it should be commended if they openly adopt a pro-public stance or take action that the public requests. This is also a result of media coverage. He hopes other MLAs will join in if citizens and the media continue to raise awareness tomorrow. This is democracy operating as it ought to.
Shailesh Gandhi took to X and shared Ameet Satam's letter saying, "MLA Ameet Satam supports citizen effort to stop MCGM from giving away Mumbai's Open Spaces. Mumbaikars must stop the attempt to give away its grounds to private parties."
MLA Ameet Satam supports citizen effort to stop MCGM from giving away Mumbai's Open Spaces . Mumbaikars must stop the attempt to give away its grounds to private parties. @AmeetSatam @MPLodha pic.twitter.com/OJOh7Yy850
— Shailesh Gandhi (@shaileshgan) September 18, 2023
Moreover, MLA Rais Shaikh too opposed this policy and said that there cannot be an important policy for the city in the absence of elected representatives.
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