BMC TO REVISE OPEN SPACE POLICY NORMS

MUMBAI: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has dropped the category that it had attempted to introduce in the open space policy for 27 private entities to continue upkeep of the spaces after it faced flak from citizen groups.

According to the policy that will be now tabled, all 216 plots will be taken back and fresh approaches will have to be made by social groups and NGOS who would want to adopt the gardens picked out by the civic body. They are also going to have to comply with the new conditions.

After chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ intervention earlier this year, the civic body was asked to take back the 216 plots that were to handed over under the earlier policy. 120 plots were taken back.

However, the civic body’s garden department earmarked 27 gardens from the remaining plots, and decided to allow people to maintain them in the first phase but with few conditions. .

However, the revised policy will incorporate the conditions finalised during a meeting with all the political parties.

“There is no separate list of gardens that will be handed over. The revised policy is on the way and will soon be tabled in a meeting with leaders of all political parties,” said a senior civic official.

BMC is yet to present the policy and take back all the plots according to the directions.

Currently, 120 plots have been taken back in various phases and about 96 plots still remain to be returned.