Mumbai:Green spaces in the city are being eyed again. The controversial caretaker policy for commercialisation of open spaces including recreation grounds (RG) and playgrounds (PG) is once again being discussed in the municipal corporation.

The policy was stayed by the urban development department, headed by chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, after there was a public outcry against a section proposed in the policy that allowed handing over of large RG/PGs (more than 15,000 sq m) to private firms on caretaker basis. It permitted private organisations/corporate bodies to construct on 25 per cent of the open space, while maintaining it for 33 years.

The state even stayed the implementation of a previously passed resolution which allowed RG/PGs above 5,000 sq m to be allotted on adoption or caretaker basis. If no competent agency came forward for adoption, bids were invited to allow them to be allotted on caretaker basis.

Now, the municipal corporation wants the stay to be vacated on the latter. The municipal commissioners office will be drafting a letter to the chief ministers office and the urban development department requesting for vacation of the stay. Municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak said the stay disallows even adoption of RG/PGs. He added that even mayor Shubha Raul had communicated to Deshmukh on the issue.
A senior official said some organisations/NGOs/ corporate bodies, who had taken the plot on adoption basis, now want to construct welfare centres, libraries and gymnasiums on them. But since the adoption policy doesnt allow this, they were keen to change to caretaker schemes. He further added that due to the stay even BMC cannot construct amenities on open plots.

The municipal corporation has earmarked Rs400 crore for the development of open spaces. However, civic officials argued that despite having funds, BMC doesnt have manpower and resources to maintain the open spaces.
Source : DNA