‘Heritage’ Shivaji Park sparks uproar

Shivaji Park, one of the famous open spaces in Mumbai, has become the centre of a controversy with political parties opposing plans to include the precinct in the heritage list.

While some residents and political parties claim that the heritage tag will affect the repairs and redevelopment of old buildings, others say it will maintain the area’s aesthetic beauty.

After the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee’s proposal, the BMC has suggested modifications and additions of structures and sites to the heritage list. This includes the Shivaji Park and its precincts, which are proposed to be declared a Grade I structure. The Shiv Sena and MNS are opposing the move, which they say will affect residents of the largely Maharashtrian neighbourhood.“There are two kinds of opinions,” admitted Shiv Sena leader and long-time Dadar resident Manohar Joshi, adding that, “majority of the people oppose the proposal.”Santosh Salvi, a resident of Shivaji Park, said the heritage status would affect redevelopment of buildings past their prime. “The interests of people need to be considered,” he said, questioning why the BMC did not inform residents or seek their opinions before floating the proposal.“This will affect the redevelopment of old buildings,” charged MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande, adding that this could be the civic administration’s way of “showing fear to the developers and makingmoney.”

Incidentally, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s house ‘Krishnakunj’falls in the precinct. “In case the proposal is pushed through, we will agitate in the MNS style,” threatened Deshpande. However, Ashok Rawat of the Shivaji Park ALM supported the move. “The purpose of the heritage committee is to prevent destruction of areas due to rampant development,” he said.

Rawat said a residential zone, which was part of the Shivaji Park scheme, was created around the Mahim Park, which was renamed after warrior king Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1927.He added that subsequent amendments to the development control regulations ensured that “one of the best architectural features of low skyline development was completely destroyed.”

Rawat claimed the heritage tag will ensure that the area “will stay away from furtherdeterioration.”

“There will be no redevelopment for buildings, but repairs will be possible,” he added. “We can understand if the Mayor’s bungalow is given heritage status, but why are residential buildings being included?” questioned former Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar.