The Times of India 22.10.2010
BMC plots to `develop` Borivli open space
MUMBAI: Ignoring civic regulations and the outcry over the loss of open spaces in the city, the Brihan mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to appropriate a 13-acre recreation ground in Borivli under the guise of giving the public `facilities`.
At an estimated cost of Rs 92.63 crore, the civic body plans to build a stadium, an 11-storey hotel and a convention centre at Shimpoli, Chikoowadi, in Borivli (West), a plot that is otherwise marked down in the Development Plan (DP) as a recreation ground (RG).
It also intends to construct a yoga centre, swimming pools and tennis courts on the 41,532 sq mt plot.
Environmental activists called the plan a blatant violation of open space norms that prohibit any construction on a plot reserved as recreation ground or playground or garden.
“We won`t let this happen. Dangerous backdoor ways are being used to commercialise reserved open spaces. This plot will be systematically converted into a moneymaking, commercial enterprise and lost forever,” said Neera Punj, convenor of CitiSpace, an NGO fighting for open spaces in the city. “This is completely against the rules for RG and PG. There`s a stay on any commercial exploitation of an open space.”
The BMC, however, has already set the ball rolling. Already, it has earmarked Rs 1.75 crore for the construction of a wall around the plot.
“Construction is allowed on 15% of built-up area of an RG plot,” said a senior civic official, without explaining further. “We are still in the planning stage. We are yet to submit the proposal to the DP department and the urban development department for approvals.”
The plan is being relentlessly pushed by local BJP MLA Gopal Shetty, who has sent letters to the chief minister and BMC top brass, urging them to rush the project. In one letter, Shetty reasons that the area needs a stadium to “groom good sportspersons”. In another, he argues that “there are stadiums between Andheri and Mulund”, but none “between Borivli and Dahisar”. “You should, therefore, push for this project at the earliest,” he writes.
In a letter to Chandrashekhar Rokade, deputy municipal commissioner (gardens), Shetty writes: “We are going to start construction of (a) compound wall shortly. You are requested to make needfull (sic) fund available for the further development through the on comming (sic) revised estimate budget and do the needfull (sic).”
When contacted, Shetty told TOI: “As an MLA, I`m making the use of my good offices to provide this stadium facility for the taxpaying citizens of Borivli. What`s the harm? I`ve not made a request to construct a beer bar there. It`s BMC`s multi-crore project and no MLA funds will be used for it.”
But the city`s environmentalists saw a lot of harm in the project.
“The standard laid down by the National Building Code is 4 acres per 1,000 people. But we have mere 0.03 acres per 1,000 people. If the BMC takes away these little lungs, it will be like a death knell for the city,” Punj added.
Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam, whose constituency includes Borivli, was also sceptical of the project. “I wonder where the BMC will get funds for a stadium when they have no money to construct roads and hospitals,” he said.
