Friday, April 8, 2011


THE MARINE DRIVE RESIDENTS ACTION GROUP (MDRAG)
82, Badrikeshwar Bldg, 4th Floor, ‘F’ Road, Marine Drive, Mumbai 400 002.
 Cell: - 9820190865 Email: - marinedriveactiongroup@gmail.com
To,                                                                                                                                                                April 09, 2011
The Hon. Secretary,
_______________________________
Marine Drive, Mumbai.
CIRCULAR LETTER FOR THE RESIDENTS
Respected Sir,
Sub:-  Information on ALLOTMENT OF UNIQUE INDENTIFICATION CARD ( UID )
As per information received, kindly note that the respective authorities have started issuing the UID cards. The Residents are requested to note the address allotted for the collection of the same for each ward.
WARD – C
WARD - A
ADD :- CHANDANWADI MUNICIPAL SCHOOL,
CHANDANWADI , MARINE LINES
ADD :- MANOHARDAS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL,
OPP PANCHAM PURIWALA, BEHIND DCP Z-1 OFFICE, FORT, MUMBAI 400 001.
TIMING :- 10.00 AM TO 5.00 PM
TIMING:- 10.00 AM TO 5.00 PM
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED :-
ADD PROOF – MTNL BILL / ELECTRIC BILL
ID PROOF – PASSPORT / DL / PANCARD
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED :-
ADD PROOF – MTNL BILL / ELECTRIC BILL
ID PROOF – PASSPORT / DL / PANCARD
CONTACT :-
CONTACT :- MR. C.K.MHATRE - 9004071822

OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE.
1)      Every resident will have to individually go to collect their own card. So it’s the best that the whole family goes together.
2)      You will need to carry the Original Address Proof & ID Proof along with a Xerox for submission if necessary.
3)      The above centers will also be open on Sundays.
4)      The authorities have also assured us that they will be sending the notice of collection to every society through a printed pamphlet and these centers will be issuing cards till December 2011.
5)      Please confirm your Ward Address before going to collect the UIDs.

Thanking you,
Yours truly,

 Ashish Shah,
MDRAG.

****Please note that this is an initiative taken by the MDRAG to inform all the residents and is based on the information gathered through our various area / mohulla / association meetings or any press releases forwarded to us by other associations , etc. This circular is only for Information purposes and public knowledge. The members of MDRAG do not hold any responsibility for the same.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Article published in Times Of India, April 7, 2011

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."