MUMBAI: Residents of Juhu are celebrating their victory after they were allowed access to a privately owned recreation ground, but they are in a minority. At Marine Drive, residents of F-Road have been protesting the alleged misuse of a green lung—which has been leased to a cooperative housing society by the collector—with little success. The open space has been reserved as a recreation ground, but angry locals have accused the management of Shri Niketan Co-operative Housing Society (CHS) of using the land for commercial purposes such as hosting wedding receptions.
Over 800 families from 26 buildings expressed their willingness to launch a signature campaign demanding access to the ground. As of now, the gates of the garden are closed, say activists, adding that there is no board mentioning who owns the ground. The plot, measuring 25,000 sq ft, is on collector`s land and was given on lease to Shri Niketan CHS for 999 years.
Ashish Shah, a member of the Marine Drive Residents` Action Group (MDRAG), which has taken up cudgels on behalf of citizens, said: "Our fight isn`t with the owners, but with the BMC and the collector. The collector has powers to revoke the lease. The garden has been converted into a decorator`s godown. CHS claims to have taken permission from the collector to conduct 15 weddings on the RG plot annually. " He added that the housing society has also violated other conditions by constructing a bathrom and changing room for the bride and groom.
Another F-Road resident Nikhil Banker, said: "The society charges for weddings stating that it will use the money to maintain the plot. So far nothing has been done."
But Ramesh Gopalka, the joint secretary of Shri Niketan CHS refuted the claims. "We have all the valid documents to prove that the ground`s use is legal and that Shri Niketan CHS is the owner. We have a lease agreement of 999 years. As this is not a public garden due permission is needed from the collector if citizens wish to have access to it." He added that there is a children`s corner in the garden, which is open to kids under the age of 12.
Collector C K Oak said, "I visited the site 15 days ago. I will study the lease agreement and if there are any violations, I will initiate action. Residents were to submit documents to support their claim, but they have not done so yet."
Over 800 families from 26 buildings expressed their willingness to launch a signature campaign demanding access to the ground. As of now, the gates of the garden are closed, say activists, adding that there is no board mentioning who owns the ground. The plot, measuring 25,000 sq ft, is on collector`s land and was given on lease to Shri Niketan CHS for 999 years.
Ashish Shah, a member of the Marine Drive Residents` Action Group (MDRAG), which has taken up cudgels on behalf of citizens, said: "Our fight isn`t with the owners, but with the BMC and the collector. The collector has powers to revoke the lease. The garden has been converted into a decorator`s godown. CHS claims to have taken permission from the collector to conduct 15 weddings on the RG plot annually. " He added that the housing society has also violated other conditions by constructing a bathrom and changing room for the bride and groom.
Another F-Road resident Nikhil Banker, said: "The society charges for weddings stating that it will use the money to maintain the plot. So far nothing has been done."
But Ramesh Gopalka, the joint secretary of Shri Niketan CHS refuted the claims. "We have all the valid documents to prove that the ground`s use is legal and that Shri Niketan CHS is the owner. We have a lease agreement of 999 years. As this is not a public garden due permission is needed from the collector if citizens wish to have access to it." He added that there is a children`s corner in the garden, which is open to kids under the age of 12.
Collector C K Oak said, "I visited the site 15 days ago. I will study the lease agreement and if there are any violations, I will initiate action. Residents were to submit documents to support their claim, but they have not done so yet."
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