BMC will finally take over Priyadarshini Park, issues notice to Malabar Hill Citizens’ Forum

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) last week, shot a notice to M/s Malabar Hill Citizens’ Forum to hand​over Priyadarshini Park back to BMC. ​The citizen​s​'​​ forum had raised two sheds illegally and one of the sheds was given to run ​a ​canteen. ​The forum ​had ​issued ​a ​No Objection Certificate (NOC) for procuring ​a ​Shop and Establishment license for the canteen.

​A civic official said that ​the forum ​had ​also constructed ​a ​synthetic jogging track at ​the ​sport​s​ complex and various other works like Aerobic​s​ centre, Health Club, Yoga Hall, Office shed, Patra Shed were carried out at the park without permissions of the BMC. Though the work was carried out through public funds for facilitating t​he​ general public free of cost​, the​ Malabar Hill Citizen forum handsomely charg​ed​ for these public utilities. ​The permanent structures used as Gymnasium, recreational hall and party hall ​were constructed at ​the ​fag end of Priyadarshani Park adjoining the seashore without any approval, sanction or permission of the BMC. Commercial activities were carried out by charging at Priyadarshani Park without approvals of the BMC.

BMC has decided to take back 15,000 sqm of the park to construct services and amenities. The Malabar Hill Citizens’ Forum, which developed the plot into a lung space ​for​ the locality with a joggers’ track, a garden and other facilities, had refused to surrender the piece of land.

The state government had handed over the plot to the BMC in 1980. In 1985, the municipal corporation had given it to the forum to develop the park. However, the development planning (DC) rules clearly stated that 26,000 sqm of the plot will be reserved for a maidan, 19,000 sqm for a garden and 8,000 sqm for a freeway to connect Malabar Hill to Worli. Six thousand sqm was reserved for a fire station and 1,000 sqm for the post-office. The BMC says there is an urgent need for a fire station in the area.

“It was decided that once the BMC and the state government decide to develop the reserved plot for the said services and amenities, then the residents’ association has to part with the plot,” said a senior civic official. The forum, however, was adamant about not giving up the land and had also approached ​the ​court.

BMC has issued notices to 216 open plots, gardens, playgrounds and ​recreation grounds from the care takers who had adopted ​them ​for maintenance. However, ​the ​civic body could take over almost 141 such spaces and is yet to take over 75 plots.