Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has lashed out at the controversial recreational ground-playground (RGPG) policy passed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), saying that it
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has lashed out at the controversial recreational ground-playground (RGPG) policy passed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), saying that it is a ploy to hand over the city’s open plots to private builders.
Under the new RGPG policy, the civic body has scrapped the caretaker policy — which was in the eye of a storm due to misuse of open spaces — and has decided to allot plots only on adoption basis which does not allow any construction.
However, Mr Thackeray has said he will start an agitation in which a signature campaign will be conducted in protest of the civic body’s policy.
“Our party activists will visit every household and collect signatures to oppose the policy,” he said.
“There is an urgent need to keep open spaces in the city. The space kept for common people should be used for them only. Instead, it has been decided to hand over 1,200 acres of open land to builders,” he told reporters.
Mr Thackerayalso raised questions about fast diminishing green cover in the city. “The trees in the city are suddenly dying. They are being killed by putting acid on their roots to create open space in the city,” he said.
The MNS chief’s agitation is aimed at rejuvenating the party cadre which has been demoralised due to heavy defeat in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, a party activist said. “With exactly a year left for civic elections, Mr Thackeray’s campaign will rejuvenate party workers,” the activist added.
