Urban News

The MNS and Shiv Sena are at loggerheads over the beautification plan with the former opposing the project being undertaken by the latter. Chavan, however, said it should not be made a prestige issue and be cordially solved with the locals and civic body. “This project should not be a cause for dispute and the BMC along with locals and MLAs should conduct a meeting. It should not be made a prestige issue and a solution has to be found cordially,” Chavan said.

The issue had created uproar in the legislative Assembly on Monday after the Congress and MNS MLAs tabled a calling attention motion raising objections on the beautification project by the Sena-ruled BMC. Sena MLAs had started shouting slogan in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and created a pandemonium as MNS MLAs Nitin Sardesai, Pravin Darekar and Mangesh Sangle demanded Chavan to issue a stay saying the locals were opposed to the renovation.

The project, including construction of two murals depicting Shivaji’s coronation ceremony and ride on elephant along with traditional lampposts at the entrance have become a prestige issue for the Sena which plans to inaugurate it on Maharashtra Day on May 1.

The MNS MLAs said the murals would reduce the space at the park’s entrance and may create problems during political rallies or public events. Congress MLA Aslam Sheikh raised objections that the project costing an estimated Rs 7 crore was approved without giving tenders and no permissions were taken despite the ground coming under the civic body. Chavan, however, said that no laws were violated and the BMC Act allowed the standing committee chairman to directly award work without issuing tenders.

The BMC plans to renovate the parapet and walkway of the ground, also called as ‘Shiv Teerth’ by Sena, to give it a unique identity. The redevelopment and beautification is planned in three phases and would costs Rs 6.35 crore.

Why park not declared silence zone: HC
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked Municipal Commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya why the Shivaji Park ground, a famous landmark, has not been declared a “silence zone” under the Noise Pollution Control Rules, 2000. The ground is a popular venue for political rallies.

A public interest litigation filed by Wecom Trust says that the ground, which is actually a play ground, is now being misused for various purposes. According to the petition, the park is being used by political parties for rallies, meetings and demonstrations after obtaining permission from the state government.

Petition also states that Shivaji Park should be declared a silence zone, because there are temples, schools and hospitals in its vicinity. “Prima facie we are satisfied that it falls within the silence zone,” division bench of Justice F I Rebello and Justice Mridula Bhatkar said.

The High Court has now asked the municipal commissioner to file an affidavit before May 5 explaining why steps were not taken to declare it so. As per the Noise Pollution Control Rules (made under the Environment Protection Act), blowing horn, playing music or using sound amplifier are not allowed in silence zones.