Residents of Chandivali in a fight with Mumbai civic body to protect their open space

Residents do not want the municipal corporation to convert the space into a night shelter

Residents of Nahar Amrit Shakti Road, Chandivali, are in a fix as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to build a night shelter on the only vacant plot that is used as playground by their children. Currently, residents have no developed open space for themselves in the area.

Residents of Synchronicity housing society said that they had complained to the civic body multiple times over the last one week, but did not receive any concrete response. (Pramod Thakur/HT Photo)

Residents of Synchronicity society said they have submitted complaints to the civic body multiple times over the last week, but have not received any concrete response.

The society has a 615 sqm amenity open space that was handed over to the BMC as per rules, when the residential structure was built. This plot has been lying vacant and residents of the area have been using it for recreation since then, said Mandeep Singh, secretary of Chandivali Citizens’ Welfare Association.

“This is the only space available for residents here and we have been using it for a decade now. After we noticed civic officials inspecting the site a week ago, we found out that the BMC plans to build a ground plus three-storey structure on the plot. The BMC did not inform us about this decision,” said Singh.

Gauri Dayal, mother of two, said that citizens, especially senior citizens and children are deprived of open space. The residents demanded that the BMC develop the amenity plot into a public playground or a park instead of converting it into an amenity building.

Local MLA Naseem Khan from the Congress party visited the society on Saturday. “For the past 10 years, the plot was not developed. Now, the BMC has proposed to build a night shelter here. I have sent an objection letter in support of Chandivali citizens to the BMC.”

However, assistant municipal commissioner Ajitkumar Ambi said the plan for the night shelter cannot be changed now as it has been approved by BMC chief Ajoy Mehta. He said, “The amenity space cannot be developed as an open space. Citizens will have to appeal to the municipal commissioner if they want some other amenity building like a health centre or a public library.”