17 maidans, open spaces given away by govt: claims UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, warns of ‘sit-in protest ’

Aaditya Thackeray has opposed changes to reservations of Mumbai’s open spaces, alleging that maidans are being diverted for commercial and residential use

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday alleged that the reservations for 17 maidans and other open spaces in Mumbai have been changed and converted for commercial or residential use. He warned that if ‘maidans’ continued to be converted this way, he would sit in protest outside the BMC headquarters with his supporters.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Mumbai Football Association President Aaditya Thackeray led the "Mumbai Maidan Bachao Tiranga Andolan" (Tiranga rally) at the Neville D'Souza Football Turf in Bandra West (Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times)

Thackeray warns of protest over changes to maidan reservations

Thackeray, who is also president of the Mumbai Football Association, made the remarks at the ‘Maidan Bachao Tiranga Andolan’ at Bandra Reclamation, where the BMC recently changed the reservation of the Neville D’Souza football ground to facilitate the construction of a convention centre.

“Uddhav Thackeray had told corporators that no-development zones, special development zones and maidans should not be converted. Maidans should remain maidans,” he said.

UBT leader questions plans for Bandra, Pali Hill plots

Thackeray also referred to the Rangsharda auditorium and a hotel, alleging that notices had been issued as part of an attempt to take over the property, in an apparent attack on the BJP.

He said Bandra residents had also raised concerns about a plot in Pali Hill, alleging that construction had begun there using funds from district planning and development schemes. He questioned the arrangement under which a plot at Bandra Reclamation had been given to a private organisation for maintenance, alleging that residents were subsequently being charged ₹7,000 per hour to use the ground.

Thackeray alleges sports complex handed to BJP-linked trust

Thackeray further alleged that the Andheri Sports Complex had been handed over to a trust linked to a BJP MLC for ₹21 lakh per year. “Two more plots were given to the same trust by the chief minister,” he claimed.

Referring to Fadnavis’ interaction with Gen Z on Sunday, where he urged youngsters to spend more time on maidans rather than on phone screens, the Sena (UBT) leader questioned: “How will they spend time on maidans if the maidans are taken away?”