The Times of India 04.03.2013
No BMC order to not allow girls, couples into garden
MUMBAI: The BMC has denied issuing any directives to not let lone women and unmarried couples inside Joseph Baptista garden in Mazgaon.
It was reported that several girls and couples who went to the
87-year-old garden at Mazgaon were being turned away by the security
guards apparently to prevent any untoward incident.
Deputy
municipal commissioner (gardens and security) S S Shinde said the BMC
has not issued any such directive to the security officers of the
garden. “We are inquiring the reason behind him not allowing lone women
and couples to enter the garden. We are also checking if the local
police issued any such directive or not.” He also said if it was found
that the guards were doing this without any directives from the
authorities, action would be taken against them.
The Joseph Baptista garden is one of the oldest gardens in the city, it is built on a water reservoir.
“The guards have been told to keep a check on anti-social elements from
entering the gardens, but no such specific instructions to keep common
public out have been given,” said another civic official.
Last
year, BMC had asked hoardings of a film to be taken off from bus stops
and BEST buses after senior corporators and former Mayor had taken
objection to it.
