Bmc: Not Gardens, Only Grounds To Be Given For Adoption Under New Policy | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: In the first open house organised by Mumbai guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha between citizens and the BMC at the civic headquarters on Friday over the recently released draft of the open spaces policy, the civic body clarified that the new policy would not allow any of its 346 gardens to be given out for adoption. Only recreational grounds (RGs) and playgrounds (PGs) would be given out to private entities on an adoption basis.
Deputy municipal commissioner Kishore Gandhi, in charge of the gardens department, said the BMC has a total of 1,109 open spaces, of which only RGs and PGs would be given for adoption and not the 346 gardens. Activists clarified, though, that there are several open spaces which have a dual reservation of an RG and garden and the BMC should come clear on whether these spaces would be given out on adoption. Lodha requested all those citizens who attended the meeting to document and send their suggestions and objections so that the BMC can study these.
Former central information commissioner, Shailesh Gandhi, who opened up the discussion, said in a policy where private parties are involved despite clauses, there are some who manage to get their way and make public land inaccessible to the public itself. Adding to it, RTI activist Anil Galgali said the first step the BMC must take is to get back all public plots which it had given to private parties in the past under its possession.
The BMC assistant commissioner Kishore Gandhi, though, said the civic body will not give out any open space that is fully developed. “In case of open spaces which are yet not in possession of the BMC, the policy has a provision of taking it back by giving the private parties 50% of the depreciated capital investment,” said Gandhi, adding the policy aims to create more sports facilities such as lawn tennis courts, football turfs and cricket pitches within PGs.
BJP functionary Devang Dave from Kandivli’s Thakur Village said in the past private parties were seen charging citizens for using open spaces.
Former MP Milind Deora, who came out in opposition to the policy took to X to post: “Mumbai’s green lungs are at risk once again! I strongly oppose BMC’s open space adoption policy. Past beneficiaries of such policies are well-known. With @mybmc’s massive 52,000 Crore annual budget, why isn’t India’s richest municipal corporation retaining & maintaining these plots itself?”