BMC will continue to lease open plots

Private players will get plots provided they fulfil various conditions.

The civic body has unveiled a new “interim policy” by which it would continue to lease out the recreation ground/playground (RG/ PG) plots to private players, provided they allowed non-discriminatory, free access, maintained the space well and adhered to civic timings, a source said.

The interim policy will be followed till the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) completes drafting the new open-spaces policy as per the directives of municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta, said sources. A three-member committee will decide the credibility of the group and give out plots.

Meanwhile, the BMC has rolled out an interim arrangement, in the form of a revised RG/PG policy that allows caretakers to maintain the plots. This policy will be applicable for a period of 11 months, or until the general body passes the new open spaces policy.

Meanwhile, the interim policy will not apply to those plots still in the contract period with caretakers, as they cannot be taken back by the BMC. Currently, out of the 216 open spaces — recreation grounds and playgrounds — in the city, 90 are in the custody of private caretakers.

Caretakers will be allowed to approach the BMC with a proposal fulfilling the above criteria. Following this, a three-member committee comprising additional municipal commissioner in-charge of open spaces Sanjay Deshmukh, the respective zonal deputy municipal commissioners of all zones, and the superintendent of gardens, Jitendra Pardeshi, will judge the situation and hand over the plots to the applicants. If the caretakers fail to conform to BMC rules, the plots will be taken back immediately.

Also, as a mechanism to check if the plot is well-maintained, the respective ward officers may also be part of the committee from time to time, and will be in-charge of over seeing the maintenance.

Sources in the BMC said the committee would also be in-charge of keeping a vigil during the period the plot is in the custody of the caretakers. If any violations are found, the contract will lapse.

This policy was approved by municipal MR Mehta earlier this week, and it has now been sent to group leaders for their approval, before it can be implemented.

Sources said, “Even in case of plots that have been taken back already, if the same caretakers approach the BMC, plots may be re-allotted to them. However, hardly four or five among the 126 were maintained properly. In case of those plots not taken back by the BMC, caretakers can continue maintaining them by adhering to rules.”