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17th February 2017 | Vol. 8 (I) Issue 2 |
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BANDRA’S JEWEL EXPROPRIATED BMC takes over Joggers Park, residents duke it out Over the past twenty seven years, Joggers Park has been more than just a park. It has grown to become a community of people, connected by their love for Bandra and the park. Thrown open to public in 1990, the jewel of Bandra is one of Mumbai's finest examples of a green space created and maintained by residents. However the park regulars have spent last two weeks in a quandary, owing to the BMC’s decision to take the 16,600-square-metre park back from the private trust that maintained the park under the state government's open spaces adoption policy. On 1st February, 2017 BMC notified the Bandra Citizens’ Forum, a trust formed by the Lokhandwala family that it will be taking the park over and running it there on. This move upset the residents and created a huge uproar among those who regularly access the park. At least 100 residents gathered at Joggers Park on 2nd February evening along with Dnyandev Munde of the BMC gardens department to put forth suggestions to the to maintain the park. There’s apprehension of losing the standard of the park since the takeover by BMC. This concern is justified as BMC has already shut down the ticket office; cutting the funding to the park and stating no clarity on the amount of funds that will be allocated to the park here on. Joggers Park, the pride of Bandra, boasts of a landscaped garden, birds like geese and ducks, children's play area, Mumbai’s first laughter club and the Arabian Sea as a backdrop.
In 2016, the Maharashtra government decided to retrieve its 216 open spaces under the BMC's management. After much contemplation it framed a provisional policy stating that private caretakers could be handed back these gardens if they adhered to the rules and regulations set by the civic body. However, after receiving flak over commercialisation of several open spaces handed over to politicians, the BMC backtracked. Activist Shyama Kulkarni said, “Open state policy is a good idea by the BMC. But they need to practice it in places where gardens are not being maintained properly. How is the BMC going to maintain this park if they can’t handle the MET park despite it being one third the size of this park? It
THE BATTLE FOR BANDRA HAS BEGUN D – Day is drawing near & the fight is getting fiercer. With BMC Elections around the corner, Bandra’s old guards are trembling, with mortal fear of strong new opposition candidates; who may come to power, with the wave of ‘change’ – that is a global phenomenon. Everyone is edgy. In today’s scenario, a slender margin can make all the difference. So, even strong independent candidates have a good chance of winning. The ‘Battle For Bandra’ has begun... now, it is action time ! Yes, every vote counts.
In order for you to know your options, Bandra Buzz has categorized your ward’s candidates, with their party symbol on pages 8 & 9. We suggest that when you go to the polling booth, please carry your Identity Proof: i.e. PAN card, Aadhaar card, Driving License, Voter ID, etc. Make an informed decision – and VOTE. Polling date: Tuesday, 21st February 2017 Time: 7:30am to 5:30pm TURN TO PAGE 8 & 9 >>
should be handed over to a good trust which can control this place, with the help of citizens who act as watch dogs to see that it is maintained properly with no political funding.” Senior citizens Prakash Samant and Shyam Bhatia, members of the laughter club in Joggers Park said, “We are worried that if the BMC takes over, the beauty and facilities that are currently available will drop and eventually collapse. Wastrels will loiter in because it will be free. We have never had any complaints until now. This is the only facility in the vicinity.” The BMC is certain that they will maintain the park in the same manner it was maintained for the past 2 decades. The park will soon have complaints, sugges-
tions and feedback registers to ensure that there’s equal participation from everyone. Dnyandev Munde, said, “Joggers Park was the 15th take over by the BMC. We have appointed an agency to maintain the park and they have already started painting work. In fact, the new agency has also appointed some new staff along with retaining the old staff of gatekeepers and gardeners. It is not possible to meet the demands of the residents as our mandate is to ensure equal access to all citizens neither do we have a policy to charge any fees.” The development of Joggers Park is credited to veteran hockey coach and former corporator late Oliver Andrade. The site was a dumping ground before Mr. Andrade with the help of three builders - the Rahejas, the Lokhandwalas and the Rizvi transformed it into a public park. In Mr. Andrade's memory, a plaque at the park's entrance reads - 'From Sir with Love'. 3,583 petitions have been signed on change.org and with the help of Mr Gulab Keswani, an offline campaign, has gathered over 4,000 signatures to save Joggers Park. Assistant Commissioner, H West ward, Sharad Ughade has drawn a plan for a better upkeep of this park. All are invited to hear him on 3rd March at 11 a.m. Joggers Park is the pride of Bandra, and everyone has emotionally invested in it. Let’s collectively demand that the BMC find another lowly maintained garden to put its funds and efforts in. Do sign the petition and do your bit. After all, if people are together, anything is possible. Sue-Ellen Fernandes