MBMC rolls back plan to privatise creek

Mumbai: Following a huge public outrage, the BJP-led Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) was forced to roll back its plans of assigning a private player for the maintenance and upkeep of the Bhayandar creek — popularly known as the Jesal Park Chowpatty.

The decision was taken after BJP legislator Narendra Mehta and municipal corporators of his party gauged the depth of anger and resentment amongst the local populace at a meeting held in Bhayandar (east) on Wednesday. The participants openly voiced their dissent against privatisation which, according to them, would not only create an unhygienic atmosphere and disrupt peace but would also pose a great amount of inconvenience to visitors, especially senior citizens. “First of all, it was not a proposal to privatise; the intention was to offer much better maintenance and upkeep of the place by outsourcing the work. However, out of respect to public sentiments, the proposal will be withdrawn,” said BJP legislator Narendra Mehta.

Narenrda Gupta, who heads the Jesal Park Chowpatty Kalyan Samithi, said, although it has been assured of a rollback, his organisation would continue its communication with the civic administration until the resolution is scrapped officially. “Despite objections by local residents, the governance keeps on bringing such proposals. This will not be tolerated,” said Mustakin Sheikh of the Bahujan Vikas Party.