City
Clubhouse plan raises a stink at Marine Drive
Residents allege the plot where it will come up, is reserved for recreational purpose
Geeta Desai
Posted On Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 02:26:10 AM
| Marine Drive residents are fuming over a clubhouse that is coming up on a plot, which is the only open space left in the area. The plot, around 25,000 sq ft, is located on the F Road at Churchgate, and is leased to Shree Niwas Co-operative Housing Society for recreation purposes. Till last year, the plot was being used as public property. Since 2009, outsiders are not allowed there, and office bearers at Shree Niwas society say it is a private plot. Inquiries by the residents revealed the plot comes under the collector, and was reserved as recreation ground.
Last Sunday, more than 700 people attended a meeting held to resolve the dispute. Residents opposed the clubhouse construction on the plot, and a protest letter was written to the collector, and its copies were submitted to the MP, MLA and the councillor of the area. Ashish Shah, who resides in Badrikeshwar, a building adjoining the plot, said, “We need a garden in the area and not another clubhouse which will be out of bound for most residents.” Another resident, Jignesh Doshi, said, “If Shree Niwas society cannot maintain the plot for the public, which it is obliged to, Marine Drive residents are capable of doing so.” The secretary of Shree Niwas society, Gopal Das, asked for the copy of the protest letter, saying he was not aware of it. When copies were e-mailed to him, he said he was not in the office, and could not read the letter. But protesters are not amused. Nimesh Shah, who lives in Shalimar Building, said the BMC has given the IOD permission for the clubhouse even as there is no clarity on caretaker policy. “How can a permission be given to exploit the part of open space by a private party?” he asked. Another resident, Alok Agarwal, said the plot is given out on rent for marriage processions and parties. Local corporator Vinod Shekhar has supported the protesters and said the BMC permission could be revoked. Direct link to the press article in Mumbai Mirror |
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