Indian Express 14.09.2010
Give locals first say on open spaces: state
sharvaripatwa Tags : caretaker policy, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Posted: Tue Sep 14 2010, 04:01 hrs
BMC asked to consult locals before allotting spaces under caretaker policy Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is trying to revive its caretaker policy for management and maintenance of open spaces, the state government has asked the civic body to ensure the first priority or right of refusal is given to local citizens.
The policy allowing private parties to maintain (act as caretakers) and use a portion of a given open space to run recreational facilities like health or sports clubs and restaurants had been stayed by the state in 2007. Now, modified guidelines are being drawn up.
In a letter to the civic body, the state government said the civic administration should start allotting open spaces to private parties on lease for maintenance but local housing societies and other residents’ groups should get first priority, the letter states. The state government has also sought reworking of some conditions to make the policy more transparent.
“We have received a correspondence from the State Government and will take into account the suggestions,” said D Desai, Chief Engineer (Development Plan).
The state government had imposed a stay on the caretaker policy in December 2007, after citizens’ organisations alleged that powerful players had bagged rights to these spaces. In some cases, construction activity had continued still.
Recently, the issue had come to the fore when the state government and the BMC permitted the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), which had been allotted a recreation park in Kandivli as caretaker earlier, to resume construction activity arguing the allotment had been made before the stay (December 1, 2007).
However, citizens’ organisations such as CitiSpace believe such allotments defeat the very purpose of maintaining open spaces. “Making the policy more transparent or giving local citizens priority in develop open spaces is not solution,” said Nayana Kathpalia, Co-convenor, CitiSpace.
“Not many local housing societies will be able to construct or upkeep such open spaces,” said Kathpalia. She added by including such modifications and removing the stay, the government is merely making it easier for selected parties to have a “backdoor entry to commercialise reserved open spaces”.
